YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukian discussed the upcoming Armenian presidential election with the European Union’s Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Commissioner Stefan Fuele at the end of a three-day visit to Brussels late on Thursday.
“Reforms related to the European agenda and the implementation of OSCE/ODIHR recommendations in the context of the forthcoming presidential elections were discussed at the meeting,” Fuele’s office said in a statement that referred to the Prosperous Armenia Party as “the biggest opposition party” in the Armenian parliament.
“The Commissioner appealed for a critical, but constructive engagement of the opposition with the authorities in the process,” said the statement.
It added that Fuele also called on Tsarukian and senior Prosperous Armenia Party members accompanying him to “build multi-partisan consensus around reforms which are needed for effective future implementation” of an Association Agreement currently negotiated by the EU and Armenia.
The statement did not say if they discussed Tsarukian’s participation in the ballot slated for February. The Prosperous Armenia Party leader is expected to announce next week whether he will stand as a candidate.
Naira Zohrabian, a senior Prosperous Armenia Party lawmaker who also travelled to Brussels, said on Friday that Tsarukian’s visit was “highly successful” and left EU officials left with “absolutely positive impressions” about the Prosperous Armenia Party and its leader. Tsarukian’s presidential candidacy is now “definitely comprehensible” to the EU, she told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am).
Tsarukian caused a stir in Yerevan when he told a deputy speaker of the European Parliament on Wednesday that Armenia is run by corrupt individuals. President Serzh Sarkisian’s Republican Party of Armenia swiftly rejected that allegation as “shameful.” A Republican Party of Armenia spokesman also charged on Thursday that the Prosperous Armenia Party is regarded as an “artificial force” in Europe.
Zohrabian hit back at the Republican Party of Armenia criticism, saying that the ruling party is now “in panic.” She insisted that Tsarukian referred to a corrupt government “system” rather than concrete individuals.
“What he meant is that corruption is an extremely serious systemic disaster in Armenia and that individuals whose work is not producing results have no right to engage in anti-corruption struggles,” said Zohrabian.
The Europeans want to install their own stooge”Gagik Tsarukian” who will give up Karabagh for a so called peace deal to build pipelines through Armenia to Turkey to enhance energy security for the Europeans. Just read about the innogate program and how the EU helped rebuild the Azeri oil industry. Western Europe has backstabbed the Armenians for centuries . Another thing I have to add is that Gagik Tsarukian has Russian blood in him looks just like a Russian Slavic type with his big pumpkin head and gorilla body.
He should not dress up like a rock- star diplomat, but he is right about corruption in Armenia!!
The tie knot shoul rest comfortably between the collar points, Is that Armenia style necktie,
Apparently he has not stolen enough money to be able to afford custom tailored shirts.
Why ARF’s candidate doesn’t do the same too???
Lovely how Asbarez keeps moderating its “news”. I thought we have freedom of speech here, or why are you complaining then about Azerbaijan and their human rights record?
Again: Shame on the EU for shaking hands with a caricature of a person.
Dodi Gago will sell Armenia to the European Union in exchange for him becoming president. He will give back the Karabagh to the Azeris and will allow the EU to build a bunch of pipelines from Baku through Armenia.
How did a wrestler become a presidental hopeful?