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"ARMENIA SHOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO CHOOSE HER OWN COURSE"
March 13 2013
According to Simon Fraser, the Permanent Under-Secretary of the
British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Armenia is an important
player in the region.
* Mr. Fraser, do reforms that are carried out in Armenia make
our country closer to the European Union in terms of political
association and economic integration within the framework of the
Eastern Partnership, in your opinion, and is Armenia making progress
in this regard, in your opinion?
* I very much support the progress Armenia is making in building
its relationship with the European Union through the Association
Agreement negotiations and as part of that, negotiations on a free
trade agreement. I think a lot of good progress has been made, and
we hope that we will make further significant progress before the
Vilnius Summit in November. I hope that that process will support the
internal economic reform agenda within Armenia, just as the internal
economic reform process helps us advance the negotiation. So they
should be mutually reinforcing.
* There are two documents of strategic importance to Armenia on the
negotiating table with the European Union - the Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Agreement and the Armenia-EU Association Agreement. I
would like you to tell our society what Armenia will gain from those
programs.
* As a general benefit, which is that through these negotiations
Armenia will come closer to the European Union with everything that
the European Union stands for in terms of governance, strengthening
democracy, as well as economic progress. And I think that's important
for Armenia and important for the European Union, and it will help
us work together on issues involving security and stability in the
region, where we have a common interest, and then there will be more
specific benefits. So, for example, through these negotiations, it
should be possible to increase economic activity and trade to bring
more investment into Armenia, to improve some of the procedures,
for example, in the area of customs, so that there is a great flow
of goods and economic benefits.
* Mr. Fraser, you talked about the possible advantages, benefits
for our country in the EU direction, but Armenian experts have
been discussing for a few months now the possibilities of Armenia's
membership in the Eurasian Union and Customs Union proposed by the
Russian President; former and current ambassadors accredited in the
Republic of Armenia - the German Ambassador to Armenia, the current
Polish Ambassador - have talked about this issue. How urgent the issue
of membership of former Soviet republics, Armenia in particular,
and generally choosing between the EU and the Eurasian Union is,
in your opinion?
* I think Armenia rightly wants to have a stronger relationship with
the European Union. But Armenia also has - and I absolutely recognize
this - a strong and important relationship with Russia.
And it's for all sovereign countries to choose better relationships.
The key thing, I think, in relation to the trade and customs agreements
is that access to the European Union market of 500 million people,
which is the biggest market in the world, is a valuable prize. And
it's important that whatever agreements you enter into with different
parties have to be compatible with each other. I am not an expert
on the detail of these agreements, but I have been told that it
is not compatible to be a member of the Customs Union and the Free
Trade Agreement with the European Union, so that needs to be studied
carefully. So that's a technical issue, but, in general, we would
like Armenia to have good relations with all her neighbors.
* Nonetheless, Russia's aspirations in the South Caucasus, given its
influence, are obvious; so there is a political component here too. *
Clearly, Russia has interests and influence in this region, and that
is to be expected. I think it's important that the countries in the
region like Armenia are able, have the freedom to choose their own
course and partnerships, but, of course, you have to take account of
the realities. I don't want to talk about history, and I don't want
to talk about, comment on Russian policy, but I think it's important
that the European Union makes an offer to countries of the region,
which is attractive and supports their growth and development. But
we shouldn't see it as a zero-sum game, either the European Union or
Russia. And of course, the European Union's relationship with Russia
is really important as well.
* Mr. Fraser, after the 2008 presidential election, Serzh Sargsyan
initiated "football diplomacy" aiming at normalizing the Armenia-Turkey
relations. Those protocols have not been implemented; they are still
pending. There is no significant progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement. A few days ago, a presidential election took
place in Armenia, now what can the Armenian government offer to the
international community, in terms of regional development?
* Armenia is clearly an important player in a number of regional
issues; first of all on Nagorno-Karabakh, we do hope that the Minsk
Group can move forward. I know that there has been perhaps not as much
progress recently, as people would wish. I think we have to continue
to support, as I said earlier today, a settlement, which respects
the Helsinki Principles and the legitimate concerns of the different
parties. Obviously, in any solution of such a problem, there has to
be an element of compromise, and the task of the Minsk process is to
find that area of compromise. And similarly, in the case of Turkey,
we very much supported the 2009 protocols, and we would like to see
them implemented. I think there is an interest for both Armenia and,
frankly, for Turkey in taking this forward. So I hope that you will
continue to pursue that even if you find the progress disappointing
in that area. I realize it's not entirely in Armenia's hands, because
there are developments in Turkey, which will influence the progress
of this, but, of course, there are big benefits that could flow from
it, in terms of regional stability, if you like, but also potential
economic benefits. But I recognize these are very difficult challenges,
and we need to support you in seeking to make progress.
* During your briefing in Yerevan, you talked about economic programs
within the framework of the Armenia-United Kingdom relations; you
attached particular importance to the issue of your country's support
to British companies, encouraging new investment. Mr. Fraser, what was
the reason for the British side's willingness to enhance relations
with Armenia, what contributed to that? * It's a part of a broader
initiative in our diplomacy, which is to focus very much on supporting
trade and investment, which reflects the economic difficulties that
we ourselves are confronting. So, basically, where there's a good
market, we should go to that market. So you have a market here with
very skilled people, you have some assets, some sectors, where you're
strong; for example, in mining, in agriculture, in IT, increasingly,
you have big opportunities. You have a young and dynamic population
who're looking out. So I think it's great that British companies
should be looking for opportunities, and it's the responsibility of
the British government to support them.
Emma Gabrielyan
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/03/13/152929/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia
March 13 2013
According to Simon Fraser, the Permanent Under-Secretary of the
British Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Armenia is an important
player in the region.
* Mr. Fraser, do reforms that are carried out in Armenia make
our country closer to the European Union in terms of political
association and economic integration within the framework of the
Eastern Partnership, in your opinion, and is Armenia making progress
in this regard, in your opinion?
* I very much support the progress Armenia is making in building
its relationship with the European Union through the Association
Agreement negotiations and as part of that, negotiations on a free
trade agreement. I think a lot of good progress has been made, and
we hope that we will make further significant progress before the
Vilnius Summit in November. I hope that that process will support the
internal economic reform agenda within Armenia, just as the internal
economic reform process helps us advance the negotiation. So they
should be mutually reinforcing.
* There are two documents of strategic importance to Armenia on the
negotiating table with the European Union - the Deep and Comprehensive
Free Trade Agreement and the Armenia-EU Association Agreement. I
would like you to tell our society what Armenia will gain from those
programs.
* As a general benefit, which is that through these negotiations
Armenia will come closer to the European Union with everything that
the European Union stands for in terms of governance, strengthening
democracy, as well as economic progress. And I think that's important
for Armenia and important for the European Union, and it will help
us work together on issues involving security and stability in the
region, where we have a common interest, and then there will be more
specific benefits. So, for example, through these negotiations, it
should be possible to increase economic activity and trade to bring
more investment into Armenia, to improve some of the procedures,
for example, in the area of customs, so that there is a great flow
of goods and economic benefits.
* Mr. Fraser, you talked about the possible advantages, benefits
for our country in the EU direction, but Armenian experts have
been discussing for a few months now the possibilities of Armenia's
membership in the Eurasian Union and Customs Union proposed by the
Russian President; former and current ambassadors accredited in the
Republic of Armenia - the German Ambassador to Armenia, the current
Polish Ambassador - have talked about this issue. How urgent the issue
of membership of former Soviet republics, Armenia in particular,
and generally choosing between the EU and the Eurasian Union is,
in your opinion?
* I think Armenia rightly wants to have a stronger relationship with
the European Union. But Armenia also has - and I absolutely recognize
this - a strong and important relationship with Russia.
And it's for all sovereign countries to choose better relationships.
The key thing, I think, in relation to the trade and customs agreements
is that access to the European Union market of 500 million people,
which is the biggest market in the world, is a valuable prize. And
it's important that whatever agreements you enter into with different
parties have to be compatible with each other. I am not an expert
on the detail of these agreements, but I have been told that it
is not compatible to be a member of the Customs Union and the Free
Trade Agreement with the European Union, so that needs to be studied
carefully. So that's a technical issue, but, in general, we would
like Armenia to have good relations with all her neighbors.
* Nonetheless, Russia's aspirations in the South Caucasus, given its
influence, are obvious; so there is a political component here too. *
Clearly, Russia has interests and influence in this region, and that
is to be expected. I think it's important that the countries in the
region like Armenia are able, have the freedom to choose their own
course and partnerships, but, of course, you have to take account of
the realities. I don't want to talk about history, and I don't want
to talk about, comment on Russian policy, but I think it's important
that the European Union makes an offer to countries of the region,
which is attractive and supports their growth and development. But
we shouldn't see it as a zero-sum game, either the European Union or
Russia. And of course, the European Union's relationship with Russia
is really important as well.
* Mr. Fraser, after the 2008 presidential election, Serzh Sargsyan
initiated "football diplomacy" aiming at normalizing the Armenia-Turkey
relations. Those protocols have not been implemented; they are still
pending. There is no significant progress in the Nagorno-Karabakh
conflict settlement. A few days ago, a presidential election took
place in Armenia, now what can the Armenian government offer to the
international community, in terms of regional development?
* Armenia is clearly an important player in a number of regional
issues; first of all on Nagorno-Karabakh, we do hope that the Minsk
Group can move forward. I know that there has been perhaps not as much
progress recently, as people would wish. I think we have to continue
to support, as I said earlier today, a settlement, which respects
the Helsinki Principles and the legitimate concerns of the different
parties. Obviously, in any solution of such a problem, there has to
be an element of compromise, and the task of the Minsk process is to
find that area of compromise. And similarly, in the case of Turkey,
we very much supported the 2009 protocols, and we would like to see
them implemented. I think there is an interest for both Armenia and,
frankly, for Turkey in taking this forward. So I hope that you will
continue to pursue that even if you find the progress disappointing
in that area. I realize it's not entirely in Armenia's hands, because
there are developments in Turkey, which will influence the progress
of this, but, of course, there are big benefits that could flow from
it, in terms of regional stability, if you like, but also potential
economic benefits. But I recognize these are very difficult challenges,
and we need to support you in seeking to make progress.
* During your briefing in Yerevan, you talked about economic programs
within the framework of the Armenia-United Kingdom relations; you
attached particular importance to the issue of your country's support
to British companies, encouraging new investment. Mr. Fraser, what was
the reason for the British side's willingness to enhance relations
with Armenia, what contributed to that? * It's a part of a broader
initiative in our diplomacy, which is to focus very much on supporting
trade and investment, which reflects the economic difficulties that
we ourselves are confronting. So, basically, where there's a good
market, we should go to that market. So you have a market here with
very skilled people, you have some assets, some sectors, where you're
strong; for example, in mining, in agriculture, in IT, increasingly,
you have big opportunities. You have a young and dynamic population
who're looking out. So I think it's great that British companies
should be looking for opportunities, and it's the responsibility of
the British government to support them.
Emma Gabrielyan
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/03/13/152929/
© 1998 - 2013 Aravot - News from Armenia