Armenia Will Confront Attacks
Yesterday Serzh Sargsyan was officially invited to the EU Eastern
Partnership summit. The summit will be held in Vilnius and during the
summit there may be a breakthrough for Armenia and other post-Soviet
countries.
During the summit the Association Agreement and DCFTA will be
pre-signed or maybe even signed with the EU. Now negotiations with
Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are underway. Azerbaijan and
Belarus are out of the process.
Armenia is idly discussing the choice between the EU and the Customs
Union. Discussion is not active because the ruling party is promoting
European integration. The opposition must either officially say
against the European integration, which will not be understood by the
society, or not hinder Armenia. Apparently, the second, and now only
the desperate supporters of the pro-Russian policy question the
European integration.
Yesterday the U.S. Ambassador Heffern actually put a full stop to this
discussion by hailing the partnership of Armenia with the United
States and Europe. He commended the fact that Armenia is prone to
cooperation with Western partners.
In the past five years Armenia has changed its foreign bias. It was a
success because the majority unexpectedly accepted the idea. In
addition, despite reluctance to spoil relations with Russia, the
European way seems more universal in terms of economy, values, as well
as national issues.
Five years ago Armenia could not imagine itself without its ties with
the post-Soviet economy and values and considered Russia as the only
guarantor of a fair resolution of the Karabakh issue and the
Armenian-Turkish relations. However, these stereotypes have been
defeated and, thanks God, they have not been replaced with stereotypes
about the West. The Armenian policy is acquiring more rationality.
In fact, by November Armenia will have to confront attacks of
advantages of Russian bias and evidence to disadvantages of the
European bias. However, if nothing hinders, the Association Agreement
with the EU will be signed.
Not only Russia but also Azerbaijan and Turkey which have been left
out of the process of European integration may create such hindrances.
They understand that by becoming part of the European system Armenia
will be surrounded by an additional circle of security. Most probably,
like Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan will also have to get used to it.
Naira Hayrumyan
15:33 08/06/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30089
Yesterday Serzh Sargsyan was officially invited to the EU Eastern
Partnership summit. The summit will be held in Vilnius and during the
summit there may be a breakthrough for Armenia and other post-Soviet
countries.
During the summit the Association Agreement and DCFTA will be
pre-signed or maybe even signed with the EU. Now negotiations with
Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova are underway. Azerbaijan and
Belarus are out of the process.
Armenia is idly discussing the choice between the EU and the Customs
Union. Discussion is not active because the ruling party is promoting
European integration. The opposition must either officially say
against the European integration, which will not be understood by the
society, or not hinder Armenia. Apparently, the second, and now only
the desperate supporters of the pro-Russian policy question the
European integration.
Yesterday the U.S. Ambassador Heffern actually put a full stop to this
discussion by hailing the partnership of Armenia with the United
States and Europe. He commended the fact that Armenia is prone to
cooperation with Western partners.
In the past five years Armenia has changed its foreign bias. It was a
success because the majority unexpectedly accepted the idea. In
addition, despite reluctance to spoil relations with Russia, the
European way seems more universal in terms of economy, values, as well
as national issues.
Five years ago Armenia could not imagine itself without its ties with
the post-Soviet economy and values and considered Russia as the only
guarantor of a fair resolution of the Karabakh issue and the
Armenian-Turkish relations. However, these stereotypes have been
defeated and, thanks God, they have not been replaced with stereotypes
about the West. The Armenian policy is acquiring more rationality.
In fact, by November Armenia will have to confront attacks of
advantages of Russian bias and evidence to disadvantages of the
European bias. However, if nothing hinders, the Association Agreement
with the EU will be signed.
Not only Russia but also Azerbaijan and Turkey which have been left
out of the process of European integration may create such hindrances.
They understand that by becoming part of the European system Armenia
will be surrounded by an additional circle of security. Most probably,
like Russia, Turkey and Azerbaijan will also have to get used to it.
Naira Hayrumyan
15:33 08/06/2013
Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30089