Armenia should prove its European choice, President of The European Endowment for Democracy Foundation Jerzy Pomianowski said in an interview with RFE/RL.
According to him, if the biggest part of the population does not welcome the decision of the authorities, they should replace the authorities with the new ones that would share their values by democratic efforts. Europe will be following the future elections and the people who dream of Armenia's European future should voice their problems and make their voices hearable, Pomianowski said.
He said that irrespective of the Armenian president's statement on the intention to access the Customs Union the Foundation will keep supporting the people in Armenia who support European values and consider Europe as the right choice for their country. They in the Foundation are sure that changes and historical choice of Armenia must not be forced from outside the country. These changes must emerge inside the country. When these changes emerge inside the country, they will be supported by those who share similar values, he said.
The European Endowment for Democracy assists pro-democratic civil society organisations, movements and individual activists acting in favour of a pluralistic multiparty system regardless of their size or formal status. The EED will also provide assistance to young leaders, independent media and journalists, provided that all the beneficiaries adhere to core democratic values and human rights as well as subscribe to principles of non-violence. The budget for the endowment of democracy is 26 million EUR. The assistance to separate applicants make up 80-200,000 EUR.