Stepan Safarian, a senior member of the opposition Zharangutyun party, tells “Aravot” that Armenia’s political leadership remains wary of the Eurasian Union advocated by Russia because it understands that joining the union would seriously complicate its efforts at European integration. “If Armenia opts for the Eurasian Union or the [Russian] customs union, it cannot think about a deep European integration,” he says.
Meanwhile, Naira Zohrabian, a senior representative of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), is quoted by “Aravot” as denying that the BHK explicitly stands for Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Union. She says that the BHK only supports “discussions” on the wisdom of such membership. “Generally speaking, the BHK is in favor of integration processes within both the European Union and CIS areas,” she adds, denying any contradiction between the two.
“Zhoghovurd” scoffs at Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian’s announcement that the Armenian government will reconsider its recent decision to raise the minimum marriage age for women to 18 years. Sarkisian said on Thursday that the revision was requested by the Yezidi community in Armenia. “I was told that in Russia marriage is legal starting from the age of 14 and there are no legal restrictions,” he said. “So in effect, the fact that the prime minister’s aides belatedly inform him about practices in some other country can be deemed a sufficient condition for revising any bill in our country,” comments the paper.
“Actually it’s good that the prime minister examined marital traditions of Russia, rather than Pakistan or Sri Lanka,” “Zhoghovurd” continues with sarcasm. “The prime minister’s final argument is the most bewildering … In the same Russia, they not only get married early but also abuse drugs and alcohol at young age.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
Meanwhile, Naira Zohrabian, a senior representative of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), is quoted by “Aravot” as denying that the BHK explicitly stands for Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Union. She says that the BHK only supports “discussions” on the wisdom of such membership. “Generally speaking, the BHK is in favor of integration processes within both the European Union and CIS areas,” she adds, denying any contradiction between the two.
“Zhoghovurd” scoffs at Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian’s announcement that the Armenian government will reconsider its recent decision to raise the minimum marriage age for women to 18 years. Sarkisian said on Thursday that the revision was requested by the Yezidi community in Armenia. “I was told that in Russia marriage is legal starting from the age of 14 and there are no legal restrictions,” he said. “So in effect, the fact that the prime minister’s aides belatedly inform him about practices in some other country can be deemed a sufficient condition for revising any bill in our country,” comments the paper.
“Actually it’s good that the prime minister examined marital traditions of Russia, rather than Pakistan or Sri Lanka,” “Zhoghovurd” continues with sarcasm. “The prime minister’s final argument is the most bewildering … In the same Russia, they not only get married early but also abuse drugs and alcohol at young age.”
(Tigran Avetisian)