At the initiative of one-fourth of the MPs, an extraordinary session of the National Assembly will be convened on November 28. The agenda includes the draft law on ratifying the “Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union defining the framework for the participation of the Republic of Armenia in European Union crisis management operations.”
At the session of the NA Standing Committee on European Integration, the main rapporteur, Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan, explained that the agreement creates an opportunity to make the best use of the EU’s experience and knowledge in the field of crisis management. He also recalled that recently the partnership agenda between Armenia and the EU has been expanded with cooperation in the fields of security and defense.
“Armenia’s participation in EU missions will allow the establishment or deepening of cooperation between the relevant departments of the sides, which will facilitate further cooperation within various initiatives. The agreement with the EU will become the legal framework regulating this cooperation,” the deputy minister said.
Armen Gevorgyan, an MP from the 'Armenia' ('Hayastan') faction, asked what justified the urgency of the issue and why the draft was not included on the agenda of the regular NA sessions.
Committee Chair Arman Yeghoyan explained that on December 2, a meeting of the Armenia–EU Partnership Council will take place in Brussels, and both EU partners and representatives of Armenia’s executive branch have asked that, if possible, the agreement be discussed and an appropriate decision made before December 2.
MP Armen Gevorgyan also asked what types of crisis management situations were being referred to, and whether the mission would be civilian or one involving participation in military operations.
Arman Yeghoyan responded: “I would like to state very directly — it may include military participation, the involvement of an armed unit, just as we have had within the framework of other missions. This should not be feared, but presented as an achievement both in political terms and in terms of military training. That is, we should be glad that we are not only asking the EU for help in the form of missions and political support, but that we also provide support to their missions elsewhere, meaning this is not a one-way street where we only ask and give nothing in return,” he said, also reminding that when Armenia has needed assistance, those states arrived at their own expense to help.
“This is already the fourth year of the EU monitoring mission. Millions of dollars are being spent on the mission deployed in our country at our request. Beyond the EU, other states have also joined. In other words, during our difficult times they came and supported us. So what is wrong if in some other mission elsewhere, under an EU mandate and, naturally, with the consent of the host country, we provide our support? I think this only speaks of something positive,” he said.
