The debate of Armenian society whether they are Europeans or not continues during the past fifteen years with more or less tension. In fact, the arguments regarding this issue can be considered debates only conditionally because they as a rule are expressed with the conclusion that if not geographically then culturally Armenians are real Europeans. On the level of public discussions and viewpoints there are only a few politicians, who would put into doubt the fact of us, being Europeans. On the other hand, when we are speaking about concrete phenomena it becomes clear that like our society the political circles as well have conditional standpoints about the European values, which are accepted with certain objections and distortions. In fact these are the values, which as the history of European states shows are the evidence of the favorable conditions of living and prosperity in the country. The unity of such states – the European Union, which reached the mentioned level of development, was established based on these values. Those as well as other documents are implied in the Copenhagen Criteria adopted in 1993. Those criteria define that the states, which intend to become EU members should retain and protect democracy, human rights’ protection and liberties and legal state principles in their respective countries. In these countries free market economy should also exist. At the first sight, these indisputable principles are included in the legislation of Armenia as well, in state statutes of institutions. It means that formally Armenia almost matches these criteria. Moreover, especially during the recent years in the framework of the programs implemented by the EU Armenia will become legislatively and institutionally appropriate to the European states. On the other hand, in the aspect of social mentality, value system in Armenia there is still certain barrier regarding the European values. This is most often expressed and evaluated the European values in the context of Armenian peculiarities. But in reality what we call European values, are merely human values, which should be harmonized with national peculiarities and not be contradicted.
