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ARTSAKH AHEAD OF ASSOCIATION
Ahead of initialing the Association Agreement with the EU the issue
of Karabakh is raised in Armenia. For the time being, dynamics is not
high but the role of Artsakh, the aspects of discussing the issue in
the process of initialing are brought up more frequently.
The question became more urgent especially after the press reports
that integration of Armenia with the Customs Union was hindered by the
stance of Kazakhstan which insists on setting up a border crossing
point on the border between Artsakh and Armenia, which is naturally
unacceptable for Armenia.
What does the EU stipulate for relating to Artsakh ahead of association
and does it stipulate anything at all?
The text of the Association Agreement is confidential, and it is not
known whether it contains a stipulation on Artsakh. Recently the EU
Commissioner on ENP Stefan Fule has stated that Yerevan should make
information on practical benefits of the Association Agreement public.
This is an indirect call on Yerevan to declassify the agreement.
Secrecy is determined by the wish of the sides but it is understood
that first of all the wish of Armenia because the EU does not have
any problems. What is the Armenian government hiding? Any provision
or commitment relating to Karabakh?
As long as the text of the agreement is confidential, it is difficult
to tell anything. On the other hand, however, if there were not any
provisions on Artsakh in the agreement that cause concern, Moscow would
have arranged a leak for the Armenian society. Perhaps nobody doubts
that the draft text of the agreement will be available to Moscow,
and if necessity occurs, organizing a leak is a matter of technique.
On the other hand, it is not ruled out that Moscow will unveil it at
the last moment, such as October, because initialing is expected in
November in Vilnius.
It will certainly be a heavy brunt for the EU-Armenia rapprochement.
So if it is worth something to Yerevan and Brussels, it is time to
withdraw any undesirable stipulation relating to Artsakh if Brussels
puts forth such stipulation to Armenia by the Association Agreement.
Or it should announce openly that there are no such stipulations.
Another point is whether Armenia should put forth any stipulations
relating to Artsakh.
Certainly not. Armenia must start a discussion with the EU and NATO
on Artsakh independent from the Association Agreement. In addition,
the discussion should have already started and have no interrelation
with the prospects of association. As to the prospect of association,
the issue of Artsakh is a sensitive issue, and raising it will bring
about complications in the process of association, which Yerevan
does not need. So, the Association Agreement must be free from any
stipulation on Artsakh on both sides, Brussels and Yerevan.
There are a lot of other pipes and platforms to discuss the matter
with the Euro-Atlantic community. Moreover, official Stepanakert must
be active. For the time being, in an interview with one of the most
authoritative TV channels of Europe Stepanakert's foreign minister
did not rule out being part of Azerbaijan. Further explanations of
Stepanakert have not gone beyond Armenian border.
Hakob Badalyan 13:20 20/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30513
Ahead of initialing the Association Agreement with the EU the issue
of Karabakh is raised in Armenia. For the time being, dynamics is not
high but the role of Artsakh, the aspects of discussing the issue in
the process of initialing are brought up more frequently.
The question became more urgent especially after the press reports
that integration of Armenia with the Customs Union was hindered by the
stance of Kazakhstan which insists on setting up a border crossing
point on the border between Artsakh and Armenia, which is naturally
unacceptable for Armenia.
What does the EU stipulate for relating to Artsakh ahead of association
and does it stipulate anything at all?
The text of the Association Agreement is confidential, and it is not
known whether it contains a stipulation on Artsakh. Recently the EU
Commissioner on ENP Stefan Fule has stated that Yerevan should make
information on practical benefits of the Association Agreement public.
This is an indirect call on Yerevan to declassify the agreement.
Secrecy is determined by the wish of the sides but it is understood
that first of all the wish of Armenia because the EU does not have
any problems. What is the Armenian government hiding? Any provision
or commitment relating to Karabakh?
As long as the text of the agreement is confidential, it is difficult
to tell anything. On the other hand, however, if there were not any
provisions on Artsakh in the agreement that cause concern, Moscow would
have arranged a leak for the Armenian society. Perhaps nobody doubts
that the draft text of the agreement will be available to Moscow,
and if necessity occurs, organizing a leak is a matter of technique.
On the other hand, it is not ruled out that Moscow will unveil it at
the last moment, such as October, because initialing is expected in
November in Vilnius.
It will certainly be a heavy brunt for the EU-Armenia rapprochement.
So if it is worth something to Yerevan and Brussels, it is time to
withdraw any undesirable stipulation relating to Artsakh if Brussels
puts forth such stipulation to Armenia by the Association Agreement.
Or it should announce openly that there are no such stipulations.
Another point is whether Armenia should put forth any stipulations
relating to Artsakh.
Certainly not. Armenia must start a discussion with the EU and NATO
on Artsakh independent from the Association Agreement. In addition,
the discussion should have already started and have no interrelation
with the prospects of association. As to the prospect of association,
the issue of Artsakh is a sensitive issue, and raising it will bring
about complications in the process of association, which Yerevan
does not need. So, the Association Agreement must be free from any
stipulation on Artsakh on both sides, Brussels and Yerevan.
There are a lot of other pipes and platforms to discuss the matter
with the Euro-Atlantic community. Moreover, official Stepanakert must
be active. For the time being, in an interview with one of the most
authoritative TV channels of Europe Stepanakert's foreign minister
did not rule out being part of Azerbaijan. Further explanations of
Stepanakert have not gone beyond Armenian border.
Hakob Badalyan 13:20 20/07/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30513