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Serzh Sargsyan's Speech Enabled By Francois Hollande

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  • Serzh Sargsyan's Speech Enabled By Francois Hollande

    SERZH SARGSYAN'S SPEECH ENABLED BY FRANCOIS HOLLANDE

    Interview with Gaidz Minassian, expert, French Center of Strategic
    Studies

    Serzh Sargsyan announced at the PACE that we are ready to sign the
    EU Association Agreement and dismissed assumptions on Russian pressure.

    Do you think the signing of another document is possible in November?

    The speech of the president at the Council of Europe was, first of all,
    an attempt to tell that Armenia cannot be a tool in the hands of the
    Europeans and Russians. Second, it showed that Armenia has no problems
    with the European Union and Russia. It showed that the problem is
    between Moscow and Brussels, especially those EU member states whose
    relations with Russia are complicated, namely the Baltic States,
    Poland and Sweden. However, France and Germany see no controversies
    between the Customs Union and the Association Agreement.

    Therefore, Armenia should indicate that since all the countries are WTO
    members, there is no need to seek for controversies. And as you see,
    the speech was brought into being after the meeting with the French
    president Francois Hollande because Hollande definitely followed
    Armenia's words and will definitely try to persuade other EU member
    states that Armenia has the right posture and it is necessary to
    encourage and enable Armenia to sign the Association Agreement and
    join the Customs Union.

    Is the both option still valid?

    It certainly is since we do not know what the Customs Union will
    be, it is still valid because we don't know how Ukraine, Georgia,
    Moldova will act which are ready to sign the Association Agreement
    but Azerbaijan and Belarus are not. This is the reality but Armenia
    does not want to challenge the Russians.

    Fule announced that they have lost confidence in Armenia.

    There is a confidence issue because the negotiations were based on
    European standards but Armenia relies and focuses on Berlin and Paris.

    If these two agree with Armenia, the problem must occur inside the
    European Union, not Armenia. In other words, the focus is on the
    priorities of two states, France and Germany because first these states
    are powerful and have good relations with Russia, they are developed
    states, besides Russia is a Minsk Group co-chair. On the other hand,
    we have a community in France which has an important role in that
    country. However, there is a confidence issue, especially regarding
    the European leaders but the European leaders have to keep integrity,
    especially once Germany and France make all the European states
    follow this way. How will Europe treat Russia, a little strictly or
    moderately? This is the issue.

    On the whole, how would you describe Serzh Sargsyan's speech?

    One should take into account that the speech of the Armenian president
    followed and was enabled by his meeting with Francois Hollande.

    Besides, the president of Armenia cannot just admit there was pressure
    because he is the president of a sovereign state, and he cannot
    speak about pressure because that would mean that Armenia is under
    the Russian influence. Third, the Europeans want peace, stability,
    a good climate in the South Caucasus. And this speech is evidence
    that Azerbaijan is the disturbance of the region because we agree
    with all the documents but Azerbaijan is reluctant to sign them.

    Do you mean Armenia neither won, nor lost the negotiations?

    Yes, it neither won, neither lost, it is a waiting period, it depends
    on what France and Germany will say. It will be something else if the
    president of France or the German chancellor or another key official
    states that Armenia may sign the Association Agreement with the EU
    and be a Customs Union member. But we need to know what France will
    say and who should speak, whether the French government agrees with
    Armenia's position and what the position of France is. If they assume
    that there is no controversy, then we have no problem with Russia,
    otherwise there is an issue.

    The issue is between Moscow and Brussels.

    France cannot conduct an anti-Armenian policy and, basically, bilateral
    relations are always productive. However, fear must be eventually
    removed from our bodies and souls, it must be overcome. Our enemies
    want to keep this fear to keep us under their control, to intimidate
    Armenians, not to let them think freely. This is the historical issue.

    Siranuysh Papyan 13:40 04/10/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
    http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/interview/view/31026




    From: A. Papazian
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