{"id":71253,"date":"2014-02-25T17:45:40","date_gmt":"2014-02-25T13:45:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/archive2.ankakh.com\/?p=71253"},"modified":"2014-02-25T17:45:40","modified_gmt":"2014-02-25T13:45:40","slug":"acnis-hosts-conference-on-international-integration-processes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive2.ankakh.com\/en\/?p=71253","title":{"rendered":"ACNIS Hosts Conference on International Integration Processes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Yerevan\u2014The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) today held a roundtable discussion on \u201cThe Eastern Partnership and Customs Union: International Integration Projects or Geopolitical Competition?\u201d The meeting brought together representatives from the diplomatic community in Yerevan, leading policy analysts, political figures, and members of the press.<\/p>\n

Raffi K. Hovannisian, ACNIS founder and president, welcomed the audience with keynote remarks, and wished the participants fruitful deliberation. \u201cWith today\u2019s strategic offering, ACNIS enters its 20th<\/sup> year of public service and commitment to the cause of objective, multi-disciplinary research, analysis, and national discourse for the betterment of Armenia and the deepening of its democracy, rule of law, and sovereignty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Welcoming the guests with an opening speech, ACNIS director Manvel Sargsian underscored the need for public debates on the matter at hand. \u201cArmenia\u2019s choice between signing the EU Association Agreement and entering the Customs Union evoked concerns all over the world, and particularly in those countries, whose interests are closely linked with the afore-mentioned projects. Armenia is one of those countries,\u2014hence comprehensive, multi-disciplining assessments of the processes taking place are of vital significance for us.\u201d<\/p>\n

The day\u2019s first speaker was governance expert Harutyun Mesrobyan, who described Armenia\u2019s decision to access the Customs Union as a serious challenge to the state\u2019s sovereignty and security. \u201cBy accessing any union, we will become uncompetitive. It is simply amazing why Armenia\u2014neighboring Iran with its vast resources\u2014does not make any use of it and is knocking at doors of the North and the West. The impression is that we do need a state but we are looking for any available protector,\u201d Mesrobyan underscored.<\/p>\n

In his intervention, leading economist Dr. Tatoul Manasserian assessed the advantages and disadvantages of the Customs Union. According to him, Armenia’s membership in the Customs Union may bring more economic harm than good if the procedure of customs clearance is not clarified. \u201cI appreciate the very positive cooperation, but along political decisions, we need to be able to make correct economic calculations so that the budget could avoid any gaps caused by not cleared customs.\u201d On the other hand, Manasserian stressed that at current stage it is of vital importance to solve the Abkhazian railroad issue with assistance of the strategic partner \u201cwhich will create more favorable conditions for businesses to develop trade and economic relations with the outside world.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his turn, Yerevan Press Club president Boris Navasardyan\u2014in light of Armenia\u2019s \u201cofficial\u201d decision to enter the Customs Union\u2014contemplated the prospects of the nation\u2019s facing restrictions upon its democratic freedoms. \u201cBy choosing the Eurasian direction, we are entering a system where the other three members do not meet the minimum threshold of democracy\u2014freedom of assembly and freedom of access to Internet\u2014that Armenia has already reached. Therefore, the model prevailing therein will have a negative impact on our value system. If Armenia signs the agreement on accessing the Customs Union, it will become monopolistically dominated by one country. Armenia has never experienced such isolation over the course of its modern history,\u201d Navasardyan mentioned.<\/p>\n

The presentations were followed by a series of questions and answers, and featured a lively exchange with the audience. The roundtable participants also included writer and blogger Marine Petrosyan, political analysts Mikayel Zolyan, Nikita Zarobyan, and Edgar Vardanian, civic activist Zarouhi Hovhannisyan, expert Khachik Harutyunyan of TransparencyInternationalAnti-CorruptionCenter in Armenia, head Arthur Avtandilyan of FreeDemocratsPartyPolicyAnalysisCenter, and others.<\/p>\n

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The ArmenianCenter for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is a leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan, Armenia.\u00a0 As an independent, objective institution committed to conducting professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to raise the level of public debate and seeks to broaden public engagement in the public policy process, as well as fostering greater and more inclusive public knowledge. Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the institutional initiative of Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia\u2019s first Minister of Foreign Affairs.\u00a0 Over the past 20 years, ACNIS has acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source of professional independent research and analysis covering a wide range of national and international policy issues.<\/p>\n

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