Radar Armenia's interlocutor is Anahit Adamyan, a member of the political council of the "Republic" party.

- The "Republic" party, together with the platform of Democratic Forces, organizes a signature collection on the issue of holding a referendum on EU membership. Is the EU ready to accept Armenia even if a referendum is held?

- The EU is ready; remember the resolution adopted by the European Parliament with 504 votes in favor, instructing the European Commission to discuss the issue of granting RA membership candidate status; remember the meeting held in Brussels on April 5 between US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and European Commission President Ursula von der With the participation of Lien and EU External Relations Officer Josep Borrell. Remember the presence of Euro observers in Armenia. I will not enumerate the EU's steps toward Armenia, whether political, economic, or security. I'm afraid I have to disagree with those who regularly predict the disintegration and elimination of the EU - let's wait, see what happens in the EU, then decide... The death of Europe is a myth that is fueled in the north and spread by the principles of hybrid war. In the logic of geopolitical changes, the EU is also changing; this does not mean that Eurosceptics will destroy the structure and return to the version of nation-states. Everyone understands this will not solve any problem; on the contrary, it will create dozens of problems. Even holding a referendum does not mean EU membership from the next day. In this case, the issue is not the EU; it is us. What do we do? If the RA government understands that European integration is the state's need, what has been done in 6 years to implement SEPA? Why hasn't a Ministry of European Integration been created to coordinate processes with the EU, draw up plans, work with businesses to diversify the economy, develop logistics connections, study the possibilities of the multi-billion dollar EU market, coordinate with local resources, and engage in propaganda? At least he would have voiced Armenia's intention to obtain the status of a candidate for EU membership.

Have we decided that EU membership is necessary for security, economic development, and the protection of democracy? Sociological polls prove that the public is ready, but no matter how paradoxical it sounds, the democratic government of a democratic country is not prepared for that step. And if he is ready, he drags in time, the loss of which is a boomerang that will hit the government and the state. The "Republic" and the Platform of Democratic Forces consider the referendum necessary now, not 2-3-5 years later, because geopolitical and regional events require concrete steps to increase the state's resilience, security, and economic development. We should not wait for the EU to send a gilded name card; we should think about what we will give to the EU and what we can do to interest the EU and expand its capabilities.

- In the case of joining the EU, how should Armenia neutralize the threats, including the economic ones, and is there no fear that Armenia may turn into a second Ukraine?

-Economic security is the cornerstone of sovereignty. In 2018, Nikol Pashinyan promised an economic revolution. Nothing was done. Armenia was and remains a construction and service sector; I know Armenia does not have a real economy, but resales have increased due to foreign political circumstances. That's all. The membership of the Customs Union and then the EAEU was initially the most significant political mistake that led to the 4-day 2016 and the 44-day 2020, which did not and cannot provide any development prospects in terms of security and economy. All EAEU countries are a raw resource for Russia to maintain political power: human, commodity, nothing else. In the past six years, the Communist Party, which came to power with the Velvet Revolution, was obliged to change the economy's structure, diversify the economy, eliminate Russian monopolies, create prerequisites for energy independence, restore industry, create jobs, change the demographic image... What has been done? The steps towards the West have either remained unanswered or have been rejected; remember the EU's 6.2 billion; how many billions of programs were presented, and how many billions were realized?

During this time, the "Republic" constantly raised the need for steps to exit the Eurasian Economic Union and presented plans for developing agriculture, economy, industry, mining, water resources management, and what? The RA government glorifies its successes in the EAEU while trade with the EU is decreasing. This is the image. In EAEU, there were not; there are not, and even more so, there will be neither finances nor new technologies. Therefore, there will be neither investments nor progress. During this period, no RA economic development plan was formed with at least a 10-year perspective; we were and continue to be problem solvers of the day, stating that needs to be corrected. Until today, the authorities have not even been able to decide on the issue of the new AEC. At the same time, it is evident that it is a matter of energy security and national security. An agreement should have been signed with the USA or France long ago, and we are still negotiating with several countries.

Generally, this government has yet to complete any reforms in any field. It is already a diagnosis of incapacity. The EU and the USA are ready to create conditions for the diversification of the economy, the creation of production, and the ensuring of the competitiveness of Armenian products for Armenia, but we need to do something. The government does not work with businesses or fulfill its role as a regulator - ours are bright barns, nothing more. Quick and easy money does not give anything to the state and the people; the conditions will change, and that money will be cut off, then?

Armenia cannot turn into a second Ukraine; if we look at the depth of the matter, Artsakh was the first Ukraine, and after digesting it, the Kremlin embarked on a second Ukraine. Fortunately, we do not have a border with Russia. The most that the Kremlin can do is push Azerbaijan to war again, but Baku will not go for a new large-scale aggression, knowing the price it will pay, from sanctions to regime change. Even the Kremlin understands this and is satisfied with the resources of the hybrid war, using the fifth column of the Trojan horse in Armenia.

- Why should Armenia choose between the Russian Federation and the West and pay a high price for that choice? The correct option is to partner with Russia and the West.

- Of course, partnership relations with Russia and the West are correct, but if they want to be partners with you. Let's get out of the veil of official announcements: how cooperative are Russia's steps toward Armenia? Even if we bypass the issue of Artsakh, where the Russian Federation showed itself as an enemy and with all its actions contributed to the defeat and depopulation of Artsakh, the elimination of Armenian Artsakh, does the Russian Federation recognize the borders of Armenia? Does Russia give Armenia the weapons for which it was paid? Has Russia made any partnership move? It's time to understand that Azerbaijan is Russia's ally in the region, Russia's interests coincide with Azerbaijan, and any collaboration with Russia in any field is an illusion. It does not mean breaking up the relationship. We should build our relations with the Russian Federation based on the interests of the Republic of Armenia.

The policy of regionalization, a theory that has been circulating recently, is also completely wrong. Armenia can only be confined and developed in the region with the support of the West. This is definite. Iverjo, which is not a state in the area, is pursuing a policy of building its relations in the region. This is a false and incorrect thesis that will soon prove its bankruptcy. Armenia has only one way, the deepening of ties with the West, and the EU membership referendum should give the West clear proof that the people of Armenia have decided that their state prefers the option of developing democratically and that no government can destroy the state's destiny overnight. The EU membership referendum is Armenia's independence referendum in the 21st century, which will bring protection, development, and perspective.Does this government do it? It's better for it. Willn't it? The next one will do it and not repeat this government's mistakes. It will put national security, economic security, democracy, and the long-term development plan of the state as the basis of strengthening the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia.

Hayk Magoyan