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AGAINST DIVIDING LINES: ARMENIA RAISES ISSUES OF BLOCKADE BY NEIGHBORS AT EASTERN PARTNERSHIP SUMMIT
http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/47608/armenia_epp_eastern_parternship_summit_europe_russ ia
ANALYSIS | 12.07.13 | 09:50
Photo: www.president.am
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The Eastern Partnership summit of the European People's Party (EPP)
took place in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau on July 11. It was
attended by the presidents of Armenia, Georgia and Moldova, as well
as the chairman of the EPP.
At the meeting Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan spoke about
cooperation within the framework of Eastern Partnership, implementation
of commitments by Armenia and of the reforms being carried out in
the country in connection with its participation in a European Union
program.
According to the press service of the Armenian president, within
the context of regional challenges Sargsyan also spoke about the
inadmissibility of Azerbaijan's policy of "transforming energy
cooperation into energy dictation". He also raised the issue of the
illegal blockade of Armenia by Turkey, stressing that closed borders,
in fact, contradict the essence of the European Union and its values.
"In our opinion, the Eastern Partnership program by its essence
is aimed at cooperation, but is not an initiative to create
contradictions; it is not directed against any state or group
of states. This partnership is aimed at ultimately overcoming the
dividing lines," concluded Sargsyan.
European officials speak about their desire to get Ukraine, Armenia,
Moldova and Georgia initial Association Agreements with the EU already
at the Vilnius Eastern Partnership summit scheduled for November. This
was, in particular, reaffirmed by EU Commissioner for Enlargement
and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule who paid a visit to Yerevan on
Wednesday, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy Catherine Ashton, who visited Chisinau.
Officials in Yerevan neither explicitly confirmed nor explicitly denied
their intention to initial the agreement at the November summit. In
Chisinau Sargsyan did not speak about dates either.
Moreover, in recent days Armenia, in fact, put forward two conditions
to the European Union.
In Yerevan, the matter of financial aid was raised: at the meeting
with Fule the Armenian leader pointed out that a successful course
of reforms depended on assistance from Europe. And in Chisinau he,
in fact, urged the European Union to put pressure on Turkey to open
its border with Armenia. The country's entry into an EU customs union
is meaningless as long as Turkey keeps the border with Armenia closed,
Sargsyan underscored.
For his part, while visiting Yerevan, Fule said that under the free
trade area agreement they are ready not only to provide financial
means to Armenia, but also to promote international investments. The
European official said that much more substantial financial assistance
was envisioned in the 2014-2020 financial cycle for countries that
give a fresh impetus to reforms as part of Association Agreements.
But Fule also made it clear that the agreement has certain conditions
that do not imply unilateral concessions. "We are opening our market
to you in certain segments. But the level of openness will depend
on how the parties fulfill their obligations," he said, apparently
implying the initialing of Association Agreements in November.
Meanwhile, more frequently views are being expressed in Armenia that
the initialing of the agreements with the EU should be postponed.
Those experts who support this position are wary of Russia's
'unpredictable actions' if Armenia goes all the way to put signatures
to documents with the EU.
Asked whether he saw pressure from Russia, which has already raised
the price of natural gas to Armenia and sells weapons to Azerbaijan,
the European commissioner suggested that Armenian journalists
themselves assess whether there is such pressure or not: "There is
no room for pressure in our relations with partners. I can only say
that the Association Agreement does not limit the ability of Armenia
to build relationships with its neighbors. If someone puts pressure,
it will, on the contrary, strengthen your position in the framework
of regional cooperation."
However, shortly before Fule's visit former Russian Ambassador to
Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko gave a lengthy interview to Russian media
in which he warned of the dangers of the European way for Armenia.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions, too," said Kovalenko.
In Armenia, many took it as Russia's 'last warning'.
However, Fule said the EU will continue to encourage cooperation
between Armenia and Russia, which Yerevan deems important and which
is connected with security issues. "We ourselves are going to ensure
that Armenia is able to do so without compromising the commitments
made to the EU," said the European official.
http://www.armenianow.com/commentary/analysis/47608/armenia_epp_eastern_parternship_summit_europe_russ ia
ANALYSIS | 12.07.13 | 09:50
Photo: www.president.am
By NAIRA HAYRUMYAN
ArmeniaNow correspondent
The Eastern Partnership summit of the European People's Party (EPP)
took place in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau on July 11. It was
attended by the presidents of Armenia, Georgia and Moldova, as well
as the chairman of the EPP.
At the meeting Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan spoke about
cooperation within the framework of Eastern Partnership, implementation
of commitments by Armenia and of the reforms being carried out in
the country in connection with its participation in a European Union
program.
According to the press service of the Armenian president, within
the context of regional challenges Sargsyan also spoke about the
inadmissibility of Azerbaijan's policy of "transforming energy
cooperation into energy dictation". He also raised the issue of the
illegal blockade of Armenia by Turkey, stressing that closed borders,
in fact, contradict the essence of the European Union and its values.
"In our opinion, the Eastern Partnership program by its essence
is aimed at cooperation, but is not an initiative to create
contradictions; it is not directed against any state or group
of states. This partnership is aimed at ultimately overcoming the
dividing lines," concluded Sargsyan.
European officials speak about their desire to get Ukraine, Armenia,
Moldova and Georgia initial Association Agreements with the EU already
at the Vilnius Eastern Partnership summit scheduled for November. This
was, in particular, reaffirmed by EU Commissioner for Enlargement
and Neighborhood Policy Stefan Fule who paid a visit to Yerevan on
Wednesday, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy Catherine Ashton, who visited Chisinau.
Officials in Yerevan neither explicitly confirmed nor explicitly denied
their intention to initial the agreement at the November summit. In
Chisinau Sargsyan did not speak about dates either.
Moreover, in recent days Armenia, in fact, put forward two conditions
to the European Union.
In Yerevan, the matter of financial aid was raised: at the meeting
with Fule the Armenian leader pointed out that a successful course
of reforms depended on assistance from Europe. And in Chisinau he,
in fact, urged the European Union to put pressure on Turkey to open
its border with Armenia. The country's entry into an EU customs union
is meaningless as long as Turkey keeps the border with Armenia closed,
Sargsyan underscored.
For his part, while visiting Yerevan, Fule said that under the free
trade area agreement they are ready not only to provide financial
means to Armenia, but also to promote international investments. The
European official said that much more substantial financial assistance
was envisioned in the 2014-2020 financial cycle for countries that
give a fresh impetus to reforms as part of Association Agreements.
But Fule also made it clear that the agreement has certain conditions
that do not imply unilateral concessions. "We are opening our market
to you in certain segments. But the level of openness will depend
on how the parties fulfill their obligations," he said, apparently
implying the initialing of Association Agreements in November.
Meanwhile, more frequently views are being expressed in Armenia that
the initialing of the agreements with the EU should be postponed.
Those experts who support this position are wary of Russia's
'unpredictable actions' if Armenia goes all the way to put signatures
to documents with the EU.
Asked whether he saw pressure from Russia, which has already raised
the price of natural gas to Armenia and sells weapons to Azerbaijan,
the European commissioner suggested that Armenian journalists
themselves assess whether there is such pressure or not: "There is
no room for pressure in our relations with partners. I can only say
that the Association Agreement does not limit the ability of Armenia
to build relationships with its neighbors. If someone puts pressure,
it will, on the contrary, strengthen your position in the framework
of regional cooperation."
However, shortly before Fule's visit former Russian Ambassador to
Armenia Vyacheslav Kovalenko gave a lengthy interview to Russian media
in which he warned of the dangers of the European way for Armenia.
"The road to hell is paved with good intentions, too," said Kovalenko.
In Armenia, many took it as Russia's 'last warning'.
However, Fule said the EU will continue to encourage cooperation
between Armenia and Russia, which Yerevan deems important and which
is connected with security issues. "We ourselves are going to ensure
that Armenia is able to do so without compromising the commitments
made to the EU," said the European official.