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In its strategy draft the Armenian National Platform of the Civil Society Forum reaffirms its disaccord expressed in the statement disseminated on September 17 with regard to September 3, 2013 statement of the RA President over accession to the CU. Pursuant to the draft, in the situation newly created in the country, the Armenian National Platform of the Civil Society Forum initiates certain changes in the strategic priorities and working style of its activities.

The draft reads that the decision taken on September 3 implies certain reinterpretation of principles adopted by ANP, namely, in terms of dialogue with the authorities and ANP participation.

“The agenda of ANP should be in line with the context of the EU-Armenia relations, the directions foreseen by Eastern Partnership Roadmap, the draft of EU-Armenia Association Agreement. Being a free, unbending, and multilateral platform for discussions, the Armenian National Platform of the Civil Society Forum should hereinafter display more consistence in terms of applying ANP organizational principles, to preserve its agenda and priorities, electing/ authorizing its representatives”, reads the statement.

The latter also stipulates the main direction of the ANP activities, the fist out of which is public awareness: it implies European integration processes, large-scale information regarding the EU-Armenia relations, the Eastern Partnership process, the possible consequences of the Association Agreement ratification and accession to the Customs Union.

In this respect, the publication of the Association Agreement draft and its presentation to wide public discussion is deemed necessary, special significance is paid to the dissemination of information through social networks and holding of open public discussions. The EaP  CSF also finds it necessary to conduct monitoring of democratic reforms in Armenia based on the criteria of the EU-Armenia relations by properly informing both the Armenian society and international organizations about the monitoring results: ANP active participation in the Eastern Partnership priorities at regional level, effective implementation of provisions of the Association Agreements within the framework of the National Platform of Civil Society Forum and NP multilateral initiatives, as well as  inventory of projects implemented in the RA during the recent years aimed at civil society support and European Integration in terms of real promotion of their effectiveness and strengthening of the EU-Armenia relations.

According to the draft, the Armenian society should be gathered around European values, European Integration concepts and democratic reforms, for that purpose cooperate with all stakeholder structures and individuals, it is also necessary to unite the active forces of the society, planning of mutual activities and specific role distribution.

Representative of the “National Citizens’ Initiative” NGO Hovsep Khurshudyan noted that in terms of ensuring outside political balance to Armenia in the future another paragraph should be added to the draft not to deprive of the chance of displaying flexibility. According to Khurshudyan, the draft should stipulate the active participation of the civil society in the discussions of this process.

Chairman of the Helsinki Citizens Assembly Vanadzor Artur Sakunts expressed an opinion that the draft adapted them to the mentality of reconciling with unavoidable imprisonment and work in that situation. “If September 3 statement was not made, we would still continue these activities. What is the difference that is taken into account here? I think we either are unable to give a real assessment, or we must go into details to reveal what it is, since the situation is incessantly changing. I must state that I don’t see any political forces with whom a strategy can be carried out”, he stated.

Sakunts opined that the assessments provided by them should not be diplomatic but typical of the civil society. Sakunts is convinced that the civil society did not need diplomatic or political evaluations. Their disposition should be clear-cut: accession to the CU is inadmissible, since it contradicts the RA Constitution.

Coordinator of Armenian National Platform of the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Civil Society Forum (CSF) Boris Navasardyan opposed to Sakunts’ word by mentioning that the document made a reference to their September 17 statement, which contained the Platform’s disposition regarding the situation.

“If there is a need to once again repeat certain provisions, let us do it, if there is a need to add new provisions, we shall do it so, but stating that the document was not based on the situation, it is not right. In this phase we need to know who is who, and if needed, we shall put specific emphasis”, he stated.

Navasardyan mentioned they would get engaged in a dialogue with every party, unless the latter did not contradict their agenda priorities. The Civil Society Forum coordinator informed that a special working group was to be formed for the discussion of the draft, which would continue its activities until November 7-8 with a final decision following it.

Source: http://www.1in.am/arm/armenia_politics_223374.html