Richard Kirakossian: "Major obstacle in Armenia's Euro-integration is excessive dependence on Russia"

Analyst says, election fraud can result in breaking the Millennium Challenge program and general disappointment in Armenia. Such approach, according to Kirakossian, is stipulated by stricter requirements presented by the international community to Armenia than to other developing countries. In this connection, they are more intolerable to fraud in Armenia than in other countries. If the elections do not meet international norms, it will be another opportunity lost for the country.

Answering a question whether Armenia, under condition it of further democratization, can count for entering the EU independently from its neighboring countries in the region, Kirakossian noted that in this issue the major obstacle is excessive Armenia's dependence on Russia. "I do not insist that Armenia should turn towards the EU by 100%. But Armenia should become all-sufficient instead of imitating Russia or EU," the American analyst concludes. Regnum