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SERZH SARGSYAN'S "NEW" GAME
While addressing the PACE session in Strasbourg Serzh Sargsyan
announced that he is determined to leave for Vilnius at the end of
November and sign the Association Agreement excluding the trade-related
part. Apparently, Serzh Sargsyan has been able to achieve compromise
with Europe.
Serzh Sargsyan's speech contained some symptomatic pronouncements,
particularly allegations against Europe which, according to Serzh
Sargsyan, would not agree to sign the Association Agreement after
Armenia announced to join the Customs Union. In fact, Sargsyan states
that Europe, not Russia or Armenia has broken the agreement. However,
Armenia may forgive Brussels if the latter agrees to sign an agreement
on "political association: with Armenia.
Serzh Sargsyan is not hiding that political association means that
Europe will fund reforms in Armenia. He knows that Armenia will
not benefit from the Customs Union and is trying to make sure that
money will continue to come from Europe. In other words, political
association with Europe is economically more beneficial than DCFTA
which requires that Armenia take measures which will not be popular
with the oligarchs whereas political association is all about grants.
Brussels certainly understands this and therefore does not hurry to
agree with Serzh Sargsyan though does not rule out the possibility
of signing the agreement either. Obviously, however, Brussels will
not just give away money. The grants might be replaced with loans.
Although, it is not ruled out that a more "wily" form will be found.
Moscow has not commented on the possibility of signing an agreement
on "political association" with Europe. In fact, it will not have
any implications for Moscow because Serzh Sargsyan gave the clue in
his speech in Strasbourg - Armenia will not separate from the space
where it lived for 20 years.
Naira Hayrumyan 11:47 03/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/31013
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
While addressing the PACE session in Strasbourg Serzh Sargsyan
announced that he is determined to leave for Vilnius at the end of
November and sign the Association Agreement excluding the trade-related
part. Apparently, Serzh Sargsyan has been able to achieve compromise
with Europe.
Serzh Sargsyan's speech contained some symptomatic pronouncements,
particularly allegations against Europe which, according to Serzh
Sargsyan, would not agree to sign the Association Agreement after
Armenia announced to join the Customs Union. In fact, Sargsyan states
that Europe, not Russia or Armenia has broken the agreement. However,
Armenia may forgive Brussels if the latter agrees to sign an agreement
on "political association: with Armenia.
Serzh Sargsyan is not hiding that political association means that
Europe will fund reforms in Armenia. He knows that Armenia will
not benefit from the Customs Union and is trying to make sure that
money will continue to come from Europe. In other words, political
association with Europe is economically more beneficial than DCFTA
which requires that Armenia take measures which will not be popular
with the oligarchs whereas political association is all about grants.
Brussels certainly understands this and therefore does not hurry to
agree with Serzh Sargsyan though does not rule out the possibility
of signing the agreement either. Obviously, however, Brussels will
not just give away money. The grants might be replaced with loans.
Although, it is not ruled out that a more "wily" form will be found.
Moscow has not commented on the possibility of signing an agreement
on "political association" with Europe. In fact, it will not have
any implications for Moscow because Serzh Sargsyan gave the clue in
his speech in Strasbourg - Armenia will not separate from the space
where it lived for 20 years.
Naira Hayrumyan 11:47 03/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/31013
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress