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EUROPE OR EURASIA?: ARMENIA BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE FACING HARD CHOICE OF ECONOMIC ALLIANCE
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
Economy | 25.07.12 | 13:28
Serzh Sargsyan received the chairman of the Federal Assembly of the
State Duma of the RF Sergei Narishkin
Russian State Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin on a visit in Yerevan
stated that Armenia is trying to find its place in the Eurasian Union,
well aware of the fact that the Eurasian economic area is a format for
developing economic relations. "The leadership of Armenia is watching
closely how the Eurasian Union project is unfolding and is trying to
identify its place in that project," he stated. .
Armenia, however, has given no official response to Russia's
suggestion that Armenia join the Eurasian Union. During his meeting
with Naryshkin, President Serzh Sargsyan spoke more about bilateral
relations with Russia and no word about the Eurasian Union.
Sargsyan states that Armenia is interested in deepening its ally
relations with Russia and stressed that the unflinching relations
with that superpower are the cornerstone of Armenia's security.
This might mean that the president was trying to implicitly say that
Armenia views Russia exclusively as an ally in terms of security,
but that economically it is planning to cooperate with another union -
the EU.
On July 23 in Brussels, Armenian foreign minister Eduard Nalbandyan
took part in the meeting of foreign ministers of EU countries and
Eastern Partnership, during which he stated that 28 out of the total 29
points in the agreement on Association with the EU have been reconciled
during the two years of negotiations, with only one point remaining
to go. That point, most probably, is the one on Karabakh-related
preamble and formulations.
"We are expecting progress also in the negotiations on the creation
of deep and comprehensive free trade area and are hoping to complete
them before the summit in Vilnius scheduled for 2013," said Nalbandyan,
adding that the simplified entry visa regime and readmission agreement
text has been drafted.
Armenia's desire to enter the EU is so obvious and unconcealed that
Naryshkin had to come up with a new argument to attract Armenia into
the Eurasian Union. The involvement of CIS countries, including
Armenia, in the Eurasian Union would strengthen their European
orientation, he said. Naryshkin also stated that in the politics of
different countries "there is an ungrounded contraposition of Eurasian
versus European vectors of development, expressed by certain countries'
fear that by entering the Customs union - single economic area -
will make their European orientation impossible."
He called upon Armenia to ratify the agreement on Free Trade Zone
with CIS by fall; it was signed last year in Saint Petersburg and
has so far been ratified only by Russia and Belarus. Why fall? Most
probably, because that's when economic agreements between Armenia
and EU are expected to be signed.
It is noteworthy, that only a week ago Valentina Matvienko, chairing
Russia's Federation Council, visited Armenia and again talked about
the Eurasian Union. And September will bring a high visit of Russian
president Vladimir Putin to the Armenian capital. Experts wonder
whether Armenia would be able to keep its policy of silence during
Putin's visit as well or would openly state that it's not planning to
enter the Eurasian Union. They are also eager to know what Russia would
offer to attract Armenia: maybe lower gas tariffs or a new loan, or
maybe even investment into the new power plant? It's also interesting
to know what the West would offer instead and what measures Russia
would take should Armenia refuse to join the Eurasian Union.
By Naira Hayrumyan
ArmeniaNow
Economy | 25.07.12 | 13:28
Serzh Sargsyan received the chairman of the Federal Assembly of the
State Duma of the RF Sergei Narishkin
Russian State Duma speaker Sergey Naryshkin on a visit in Yerevan
stated that Armenia is trying to find its place in the Eurasian Union,
well aware of the fact that the Eurasian economic area is a format for
developing economic relations. "The leadership of Armenia is watching
closely how the Eurasian Union project is unfolding and is trying to
identify its place in that project," he stated. .
Armenia, however, has given no official response to Russia's
suggestion that Armenia join the Eurasian Union. During his meeting
with Naryshkin, President Serzh Sargsyan spoke more about bilateral
relations with Russia and no word about the Eurasian Union.
Sargsyan states that Armenia is interested in deepening its ally
relations with Russia and stressed that the unflinching relations
with that superpower are the cornerstone of Armenia's security.
This might mean that the president was trying to implicitly say that
Armenia views Russia exclusively as an ally in terms of security,
but that economically it is planning to cooperate with another union -
the EU.
On July 23 in Brussels, Armenian foreign minister Eduard Nalbandyan
took part in the meeting of foreign ministers of EU countries and
Eastern Partnership, during which he stated that 28 out of the total 29
points in the agreement on Association with the EU have been reconciled
during the two years of negotiations, with only one point remaining
to go. That point, most probably, is the one on Karabakh-related
preamble and formulations.
"We are expecting progress also in the negotiations on the creation
of deep and comprehensive free trade area and are hoping to complete
them before the summit in Vilnius scheduled for 2013," said Nalbandyan,
adding that the simplified entry visa regime and readmission agreement
text has been drafted.
Armenia's desire to enter the EU is so obvious and unconcealed that
Naryshkin had to come up with a new argument to attract Armenia into
the Eurasian Union. The involvement of CIS countries, including
Armenia, in the Eurasian Union would strengthen their European
orientation, he said. Naryshkin also stated that in the politics of
different countries "there is an ungrounded contraposition of Eurasian
versus European vectors of development, expressed by certain countries'
fear that by entering the Customs union - single economic area -
will make their European orientation impossible."
He called upon Armenia to ratify the agreement on Free Trade Zone
with CIS by fall; it was signed last year in Saint Petersburg and
has so far been ratified only by Russia and Belarus. Why fall? Most
probably, because that's when economic agreements between Armenia
and EU are expected to be signed.
It is noteworthy, that only a week ago Valentina Matvienko, chairing
Russia's Federation Council, visited Armenia and again talked about
the Eurasian Union. And September will bring a high visit of Russian
president Vladimir Putin to the Armenian capital. Experts wonder
whether Armenia would be able to keep its policy of silence during
Putin's visit as well or would openly state that it's not planning to
enter the Eurasian Union. They are also eager to know what Russia would
offer to attract Armenia: maybe lower gas tariffs or a new loan, or
maybe even investment into the new power plant? It's also interesting
to know what the West would offer instead and what measures Russia
would take should Armenia refuse to join the Eurasian Union.