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POLAND WELCOMES ARMENIA'S DETERMINATION TO COOPERATE WITH EU
The Office of the President of the Republic of Poland
June 25 2013
Polish President BronisÅ,aw Komorowski said he welcomed the
far-reaching determination of Armenia in a bid to initial an
association agreement with the EU at the Eastern Partnership Summit
in Vilnius this autumn.
President Komorowski speaking at a press conference following Tuesday
talks with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said that the initialling
of the agreement is also important as it will provide an additional
legal framework for the development of Polish-Armenian cooperation.
Asked about Armenia's determination to draw closer to the EU, Sargsyan
noted that while his country appreciated European values and was doing
all in its power to implement them, it also had "historical ties"
to Russia and its relations with Moscow were of a strategic nature.
"Armenia's relations with Russia base on a centuries-long tradition
of mutual trust. Our nations are befriended, Russia has the biggest
Armenian diaspora, we also have strong economic ties. Our policy is
not 'the EU or Russia' but rather 'the EU and Russia' and I see no
inconsistency in this", the Armenian president said.
President Komorowski responded by assuring that Poland supported the
Eastern Partnership countries and understood Armenia's strivings to
develop the best-possible relations with Russia. He noted, however,
that it was impossible to function in two economic areas at once.
"Poland is happy to lend support to these (the Eastern Partnership -
PAP) countries but must also point out that it is not possible to be
in two economic areas simultaneously. A choice must be made. We fully
understand and support Armenia's endeavours to build the best-possible
economic relations with Russia, we also strive for the best-possible
relations with (...) the serious partner and neighbour which Russia is,
but we do know to which area we belong", BronisÅ,aw Komorowski said.
He added that Poland's own example should be an encouragement to
choose the EU.
Sargsyan said that the two presidents noted progress in bilateral
relations and saw a positive future for the development of cooperation.
The Armenian president also congratulated Poland's economic
development. Sargsyan stressed that he was not satisfied with the
present level of economic cooperation with Poland and pinned great
hope on the possibility of its further development.
On Monday, in the presence of the two presidents, Polish and
Armenian representatives signed several bilateral agreements
covering international road transport and cooperation in the field
of agriculture.
The sides also signed a memorandum between the Polish Customs Service
and the Armenian State Revenue Committee on combating customs fraud
and the development of partnerly relations, as well as a statement
of intent of cooperation in the field of environment protection.
Sargsyan also laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in
Warsaw.
On Wednesday Sargsyan will visit the cities Lublin and Zamosc and the
site of a World War Two German Nazi concentration camp in Majdanek
near Lublin.(PAP)
The Office of the President of the Republic of Poland
June 25 2013
Polish President BronisÅ,aw Komorowski said he welcomed the
far-reaching determination of Armenia in a bid to initial an
association agreement with the EU at the Eastern Partnership Summit
in Vilnius this autumn.
President Komorowski speaking at a press conference following Tuesday
talks with Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said that the initialling
of the agreement is also important as it will provide an additional
legal framework for the development of Polish-Armenian cooperation.
Asked about Armenia's determination to draw closer to the EU, Sargsyan
noted that while his country appreciated European values and was doing
all in its power to implement them, it also had "historical ties"
to Russia and its relations with Moscow were of a strategic nature.
"Armenia's relations with Russia base on a centuries-long tradition
of mutual trust. Our nations are befriended, Russia has the biggest
Armenian diaspora, we also have strong economic ties. Our policy is
not 'the EU or Russia' but rather 'the EU and Russia' and I see no
inconsistency in this", the Armenian president said.
President Komorowski responded by assuring that Poland supported the
Eastern Partnership countries and understood Armenia's strivings to
develop the best-possible relations with Russia. He noted, however,
that it was impossible to function in two economic areas at once.
"Poland is happy to lend support to these (the Eastern Partnership -
PAP) countries but must also point out that it is not possible to be
in two economic areas simultaneously. A choice must be made. We fully
understand and support Armenia's endeavours to build the best-possible
economic relations with Russia, we also strive for the best-possible
relations with (...) the serious partner and neighbour which Russia is,
but we do know to which area we belong", BronisÅ,aw Komorowski said.
He added that Poland's own example should be an encouragement to
choose the EU.
Sargsyan said that the two presidents noted progress in bilateral
relations and saw a positive future for the development of cooperation.
The Armenian president also congratulated Poland's economic
development. Sargsyan stressed that he was not satisfied with the
present level of economic cooperation with Poland and pinned great
hope on the possibility of its further development.
On Monday, in the presence of the two presidents, Polish and
Armenian representatives signed several bilateral agreements
covering international road transport and cooperation in the field
of agriculture.
The sides also signed a memorandum between the Polish Customs Service
and the Armenian State Revenue Committee on combating customs fraud
and the development of partnerly relations, as well as a statement
of intent of cooperation in the field of environment protection.
Sargsyan also laid flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in
Warsaw.
On Wednesday Sargsyan will visit the cities Lublin and Zamosc and the
site of a World War Two German Nazi concentration camp in Majdanek
near Lublin.(PAP)