WHAT HAS HOLLANDE PROMPTED?
During the Sargsyan-Hollande meeting keeping up the pace and quality
of the EU-Armenia partnership was highlighted, the official press
release runs. It is not clear how the pace and quality will be kept up
if it was mostly determined by the Association Agreement and DCFTA,
which actually disappeared after the decision of Armenia to join the
Customs Union.
The Europeans want specific proposals from Armenia to understand
Armenia's vision of further partnership with Europe. In his
congratulatory message the French President Hollande invited Serzh
Sargsyan to Paris to talk about the latest developments.
Does France have the vision of the future of the EU-Armenia pace and
quality to talk about which Serzh Sargsyan was invited?
Sargsyan has placed France in an awkward situation. France has played
an important role in the EU-Armenian cooperation. France is Armenia's
partner number one in Europe, and this partnership is described by
deeper lines than just trade statistics. Serzh Sargsyan's U-turn to
Moscow on the way to Vilnius was clear disrespect for Paris in the
first place. It is not just a matter of surprise. Simply Armenia
took a step that placed its most important European partner in an
awkward situation.
On the other hand, France is smart enough a state not to have illusions
about the Armenian government. In this sense, Paris should be ready
for the most unexpected U-turn and have a back-up plan.
It is not ruled out that this very thing was discussed with Serzh
Sargsyan. Or maybe the word "discuss" is a complement for Yerevan.
Serzh Sargsyan has just been introduced to some details of the back-up
plan for the forthcoming period.
France is interested in keeping its capacity of Armenia's "protector"
because Europe seems up for the competition of bilateral relations
involving Armenia. The United Kingdom, Germany, as well as Poland
have been noticeably active. The Armenian government with its typical
wiliness and intuition are trying to use the competitive moods in the
old continent to overcome frustration and anger of European partners
after the Customs Union.
In this regard, the appointment of two Armenian ambassadors, Armen
Sargsyan to the United Kingdom and Vahan Hovhannisyan to Germany is
significant. No doubt, these are not just names on the diplomatic
duty list.
In this regard, Paris may try to keep up the leader's role in Armenia's
bilateral relations in Europe. And it is not ruled out that Paris will
give Yerevan a hint of proposals that Europe is expecting from Yerevan.
Hakob Badalyan 15:05 02/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/31011
During the Sargsyan-Hollande meeting keeping up the pace and quality
of the EU-Armenia partnership was highlighted, the official press
release runs. It is not clear how the pace and quality will be kept up
if it was mostly determined by the Association Agreement and DCFTA,
which actually disappeared after the decision of Armenia to join the
Customs Union.
The Europeans want specific proposals from Armenia to understand
Armenia's vision of further partnership with Europe. In his
congratulatory message the French President Hollande invited Serzh
Sargsyan to Paris to talk about the latest developments.
Does France have the vision of the future of the EU-Armenia pace and
quality to talk about which Serzh Sargsyan was invited?
Sargsyan has placed France in an awkward situation. France has played
an important role in the EU-Armenian cooperation. France is Armenia's
partner number one in Europe, and this partnership is described by
deeper lines than just trade statistics. Serzh Sargsyan's U-turn to
Moscow on the way to Vilnius was clear disrespect for Paris in the
first place. It is not just a matter of surprise. Simply Armenia
took a step that placed its most important European partner in an
awkward situation.
On the other hand, France is smart enough a state not to have illusions
about the Armenian government. In this sense, Paris should be ready
for the most unexpected U-turn and have a back-up plan.
It is not ruled out that this very thing was discussed with Serzh
Sargsyan. Or maybe the word "discuss" is a complement for Yerevan.
Serzh Sargsyan has just been introduced to some details of the back-up
plan for the forthcoming period.
France is interested in keeping its capacity of Armenia's "protector"
because Europe seems up for the competition of bilateral relations
involving Armenia. The United Kingdom, Germany, as well as Poland
have been noticeably active. The Armenian government with its typical
wiliness and intuition are trying to use the competitive moods in the
old continent to overcome frustration and anger of European partners
after the Customs Union.
In this regard, the appointment of two Armenian ambassadors, Armen
Sargsyan to the United Kingdom and Vahan Hovhannisyan to Germany is
significant. No doubt, these are not just names on the diplomatic
duty list.
In this regard, Paris may try to keep up the leader's role in Armenia's
bilateral relations in Europe. And it is not ruled out that Paris will
give Yerevan a hint of proposals that Europe is expecting from Yerevan.
Hakob Badalyan 15:05 02/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/31011