Pundit: Visa-free regime with Europe to lead to mass exodus from Armenia

Professor Arthur Khachikian, Doctor of Political Science at Stanford University, told the Armenian media about his fears regarding the negative consequences of Armenia's visa-free regime with Europe. 

"The European Parliament adopted a resolution proposing to consider the possibility of Armenia's accession to the European Union. We should be careful not to be naive and believe in the Council of Europe and the promises made, we should not be happy and believe in the adopted resolution. It will happen not today and not tomorrow," Khachikian said in an interview with Armenian media, Caliber.Az reports.

"Today there are many countries that are waiting for their turn to join the European Union. Of course, it is good, we should strive and cooperate with the European Union, but it does not mean that we should go to war with Russia and Iran. I think this is just a candy offered to us by the Council of Europe and shown to us. We will be promised that we will be happy as always to get goods from Europe, and when we get the opportunity to enter Europe without a visa, Armenia will be empty. But it is done with one purpose: against Russia and Iran.

At one time Ukraine tried to keep the balance, but it was not allowed, it was clear that it was not done in favor of Ukraine, but in favor of Europe, the West and against Russia. It was regrettable to see how the US intervention in Afghanistan ended, the same will happen with Ukraine. If we, Armenia, want to become such a playing card, please do so.

We are in such a dire situation that when a single word is thrown to us from the West, we get excited, as happened after an interview with a British official, the deputy defence minister, who said that if there is a threat from Russia, they will protect Armenia. It was the UK that vetoed the Karabakh issue in the UN Security Council. The UK is one of the biggest allies of Türkiye and Azerbaijan, their key enemy is Iran. We are going in the wrong direction again.

If this government stays, if we continue like this, we will have other enemies apart from Russia," the professor added.