April Fool's Day in Armenia: EEU’s big market and Erdogan’s statements major political lies

April 1, which is traditionally celebrated as the international day of humor and fun, allows people to share jokes and lies without offending one another or being offended.

On this remarkable occasion, Tert.am has talked to different public and political figures to find out which political statements they find to be major lies.

Tevan Poghosyan, lawmaker, opposition Heritage party

“Recently, as I was browsing through the press, I came across a headline reading, ‘Armenians Intentionally Adjust April 24 with Gallipoli Campaign Anniversary. As my grandmother would say, ‘I wish the ground would swallow you up.’”

Eduard Sharmazanov, spokesman, ruling Republican Party of Armenia

“The biggest political lie I have heard over the recent days is [Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s statement saying we have adjusted the Genocide centennial events with the day marking the Battle of Gallipoli anniversary. It is both a lie and obscenity, but I think this tends to become the world’s top lie.”

Alen Simonyan, opposition activist (Civil Contract group)

The biggest lie throughout the year was that Prosperous Armenia is an opposition party. I don’t think there has been a bigger lie than that. Or, as [first President] Levon Ter-Petrosyan would say, “We know what we are going to do, as we have a strategy to pursue.” And so we have another lie to tell.

Sukias Avetisyan, lawmaker, Republican Party of Armenia

The biggest political lie is that those [in opposition] try to tell people every day that they are coming to power tomorrow. Is there a bigger political lie than that?

Edmon Marikyan, cross-bencher

“The biggest lie is that accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) will open to us a 170 million market; or the statement saying, ‘We are acceding to the EEU to facilitate [free] trade agreement talks with the EU on good terms.’ It was a big lie, as there are EEU member states – such as Belarus or Kazakhstan – which are not WTO members and so cannot have a free trade agreement with the EU. But the same Armenian and Russian [political] figure insisted that they would negotiate with them on good terms to have such an agreement.”

Armen Martirosyan, deputy chairman, Heritage party

We hear that the state is developing, and everything will be all right.

Tigran Karapetyan, chairman, People’s Party

I never answer questions of the kind … The biggest lie is the authorities.

Styopa Safaryan, President, Armenian Institute of International Security Affairs (NGO)

“A little while ago I was reading the prime minister’s statement saying that the Eurasian Economic Union’s 170 million market is open to Armenia. This market is open, but the economy and businessmen in Armenia weep bitter tears that they cannot join it.”

Levon Barseghyan, President, Asparez club of journalists, Gyumri; member of city council

“[The biggest lies is that] Armenia is a democratic country and that the Eurasian Economic Union is a paradise for us, that the source of our salvation is there, and it’s where our security guarantees lie…”