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NO CONFLICT BETWEEN ARMENIA'S STATUS AT CUSTOMS UNION, NEGOTIATIONS WITH EU - EXPERT
17:42 â~@¢ 06.06.13
The statement by Peter Stano, Spokesperson for European Commissioner
for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Å tefan Fule, that
Armenia's observer status at the Eurasian Union or at the Customs
Union does not run counter to the agreements being negotiated with the
European Union (EU) (provided Brussels studies the details) is not at
all sensational, Karen Bekaryan, Head of the European Integration NGO,
told Tert.am.
He does not share the view that, in contrast to Russian officials,
high-ranking European diplomats have been ruling out Armenia's
integration into both structures.
"The head of the EU delegation said such a thing only once in Yerevan.
Å tefan Fule has since been stating that they believe that Armenia's
relations with the circles in question will not cause any conflicts,"
Bekaryan said.
"It is a natural process. Partners want to know about what is going on
in the other direction. Globally, however, I do not see any obstacles,"
Bekaryan said.
Integration with the EU is both a political and economic process.
"Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, which are partners in the Customs
Union, are not yet able to reach a final agreement. However, they
are inclined to prefer the economic aspect of the structure,"
Bekaryan said.
He pointed out that Kazakhstan has lately presented its position -
the country prefers the economic aspect as well.
"And even the transformation of the structure scheduled for January 1,
2015, with it to be renamed Eurasian Economic Union," Bekaryan said.
In an interview with Azatutyun Radio Peter Stano noted that official
Brussels reminds Armenia that it cannot have any agreements that
would run counter to an association agreement with the European Union,
including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, the country
is negotiating with the EU.
The EU representative also highlighted the points unacceptable to the
EU. He noted that any state must have the right to make independent
decisions on its foreign trade and customs duties. However, the Customs
Union, with its common free trade and customs duties, strips Armenia
of this right.
With respect to the EU summit to be held in Vilnius, Bekaryan,
referring to Å tefan Fule's statement on the integration process,
Bekaryan said that the EU partners should have considered the fact
that an agreement with Ukraine will be signed at or before the
summit, while agreements with Armenia, Moldova and Georgia will only
be initialed. After agreements are initialed, an association agenda
will be proposed.
Armenian News - Tert.am
17:42 â~@¢ 06.06.13
The statement by Peter Stano, Spokesperson for European Commissioner
for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Å tefan Fule, that
Armenia's observer status at the Eurasian Union or at the Customs
Union does not run counter to the agreements being negotiated with the
European Union (EU) (provided Brussels studies the details) is not at
all sensational, Karen Bekaryan, Head of the European Integration NGO,
told Tert.am.
He does not share the view that, in contrast to Russian officials,
high-ranking European diplomats have been ruling out Armenia's
integration into both structures.
"The head of the EU delegation said such a thing only once in Yerevan.
Å tefan Fule has since been stating that they believe that Armenia's
relations with the circles in question will not cause any conflicts,"
Bekaryan said.
"It is a natural process. Partners want to know about what is going on
in the other direction. Globally, however, I do not see any obstacles,"
Bekaryan said.
Integration with the EU is both a political and economic process.
"Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia, which are partners in the Customs
Union, are not yet able to reach a final agreement. However, they
are inclined to prefer the economic aspect of the structure,"
Bekaryan said.
He pointed out that Kazakhstan has lately presented its position -
the country prefers the economic aspect as well.
"And even the transformation of the structure scheduled for January 1,
2015, with it to be renamed Eurasian Economic Union," Bekaryan said.
In an interview with Azatutyun Radio Peter Stano noted that official
Brussels reminds Armenia that it cannot have any agreements that
would run counter to an association agreement with the European Union,
including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, the country
is negotiating with the EU.
The EU representative also highlighted the points unacceptable to the
EU. He noted that any state must have the right to make independent
decisions on its foreign trade and customs duties. However, the Customs
Union, with its common free trade and customs duties, strips Armenia
of this right.
With respect to the EU summit to be held in Vilnius, Bekaryan,
referring to Å tefan Fule's statement on the integration process,
Bekaryan said that the EU partners should have considered the fact
that an agreement with Ukraine will be signed at or before the
summit, while agreements with Armenia, Moldova and Georgia will only
be initialed. After agreements are initialed, an association agenda
will be proposed.
Armenian News - Tert.am