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ITAR-TASS, Russia
April 12, 2013 Friday 04:24 PM GMT+4
EEC memorandum with Armenia lays foundation for system dialogue-Khristenko
YEREVAN April 12
- The signed memorandum of cooperation of the Eurasian Economic
Commission (EEC) with the Armenian government "has laid the foundation
for the system-based and consistent dialogue between the bodies of
executive authority, Chairman of the EEC Board Viktor Khristenko said
on Friday after talks in Yerevan.
According to him, it includes "trade issues, issues of mutual trade
regulation, technical, sanitary and phytosanitary regulation." "Having
held negotiations and signed the memorandum, we already understand
that on number of spheres, in particular on technical regulation, on
the sanitary and phytosanitary measures will have to conduct a rather
close and active professional export dialogue," Khristenko believes.
"We are currently trying to reach an agreement on holding with the
participation of members of our Commission's Board, Minister (for EEC
Technical Regulation) Valery Koreshkov and heads of relevant
departments high-level expert consultations with the colleagues in the
Armenian government (the country's Ministry of Economy and specially
created Service for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures," the EEC
Board chairman pointed out.
Khristenko hopes that "such a meeting of experts will take place in
the coming weeks and the dialogue on technical measures, technical
regulation measures and phytosanitary measures will be launched." He
is convinced that "all these processes should be launched at a good
working, expert level."
"Armenia is a strategic partner for each of the Customs Union (CU)
member state, and for the implementation and maintenance of the built
trade relations they have the bilateral intergovernmental
commissions," he recalled. "Now, as it turns out, quite serious issues
have been left out of the field of the national activity, out of
control of these commissions."
According to him, "This is all that is liked with the tariff and
non-tariff policy, protective measures." "Most of the foreign trade
agenda - everything connected with the technical regulation, sanitary
measures, has also been transferred to the supranational level,"
Khristenko stated.
"To maintain these relations of Armenia with the countries of the
Customs Union, as a minimum, at the same level, and at best to develop
them further, it is necessary to ensure their conformity to the
changed circumstances of functioning of the CU countries," the Board
head stressed.
"Another trend is the trade policy," Khristenko continued. He is
convinced that "it is easier here to some extent because the CIS free
trade agreement, which determines, in essence, the free trade between
Armenia and the CU countries is the framework agreement."
"However, the dialogue must be maintained also in order to prevent
theoretically possible measures or emerging situations from becoming
an obstacle, they must be discussed in advance, understood in advance
- how to respond to them, and just an organised venue is needed for
this," Khristenko said.
"Therefore, this trade dialogue will also be organised with the
implementation of the signed memorandum," he said.
"In the future, life will show what other spheres of competence within
the framework of the CU development, the Eurasian Economic Space will
affect the existing aspects of Armenia's relations with the CU
countries," Khristenko said. This is necessary "in order to timely
make this growing competence understandable, transparent, detailed for
our colleagues in Armenia and so that the deepening integration in the
troika (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) would not only make it
possible to avoid any problems in the relationship, but on the
contrary, provide possibilities for additional benefit from this."
"We held meetings in the Economy Ministry, a meeting with the Prime
Minister of Armenia, a big conversation with the President of the
republic," Khristenko said. "We feel the mutual interest and the
desire to actively continue this work, without making any long
delays."
From: A. Papazian
April 12, 2013 Friday 04:24 PM GMT+4
EEC memorandum with Armenia lays foundation for system dialogue-Khristenko
YEREVAN April 12
- The signed memorandum of cooperation of the Eurasian Economic
Commission (EEC) with the Armenian government "has laid the foundation
for the system-based and consistent dialogue between the bodies of
executive authority, Chairman of the EEC Board Viktor Khristenko said
on Friday after talks in Yerevan.
According to him, it includes "trade issues, issues of mutual trade
regulation, technical, sanitary and phytosanitary regulation." "Having
held negotiations and signed the memorandum, we already understand
that on number of spheres, in particular on technical regulation, on
the sanitary and phytosanitary measures will have to conduct a rather
close and active professional export dialogue," Khristenko believes.
"We are currently trying to reach an agreement on holding with the
participation of members of our Commission's Board, Minister (for EEC
Technical Regulation) Valery Koreshkov and heads of relevant
departments high-level expert consultations with the colleagues in the
Armenian government (the country's Ministry of Economy and specially
created Service for Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures," the EEC
Board chairman pointed out.
Khristenko hopes that "such a meeting of experts will take place in
the coming weeks and the dialogue on technical measures, technical
regulation measures and phytosanitary measures will be launched." He
is convinced that "all these processes should be launched at a good
working, expert level."
"Armenia is a strategic partner for each of the Customs Union (CU)
member state, and for the implementation and maintenance of the built
trade relations they have the bilateral intergovernmental
commissions," he recalled. "Now, as it turns out, quite serious issues
have been left out of the field of the national activity, out of
control of these commissions."
According to him, "This is all that is liked with the tariff and
non-tariff policy, protective measures." "Most of the foreign trade
agenda - everything connected with the technical regulation, sanitary
measures, has also been transferred to the supranational level,"
Khristenko stated.
"To maintain these relations of Armenia with the countries of the
Customs Union, as a minimum, at the same level, and at best to develop
them further, it is necessary to ensure their conformity to the
changed circumstances of functioning of the CU countries," the Board
head stressed.
"Another trend is the trade policy," Khristenko continued. He is
convinced that "it is easier here to some extent because the CIS free
trade agreement, which determines, in essence, the free trade between
Armenia and the CU countries is the framework agreement."
"However, the dialogue must be maintained also in order to prevent
theoretically possible measures or emerging situations from becoming
an obstacle, they must be discussed in advance, understood in advance
- how to respond to them, and just an organised venue is needed for
this," Khristenko said.
"Therefore, this trade dialogue will also be organised with the
implementation of the signed memorandum," he said.
"In the future, life will show what other spheres of competence within
the framework of the CU development, the Eurasian Economic Space will
affect the existing aspects of Armenia's relations with the CU
countries," Khristenko said. This is necessary "in order to timely
make this growing competence understandable, transparent, detailed for
our colleagues in Armenia and so that the deepening integration in the
troika (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan) would not only make it
possible to avoid any problems in the relationship, but on the
contrary, provide possibilities for additional benefit from this."
"We held meetings in the Economy Ministry, a meeting with the Prime
Minister of Armenia, a big conversation with the President of the
republic," Khristenko said. "We feel the mutual interest and the
desire to actively continue this work, without making any long
delays."
From: A. Papazian