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Closer EU ties with post-Soviet states not aimed against Russia: Estonia FM
October 5, 2013 - 15:37 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Some post-Soviet republics' attempts for closer ties
with the EU are not aimed against Russia, Estonian Foreign Minister
said.
As Urmas Paet said in an interview with Interfax, there's no reason
for conflict even if Ukraine signs a free trade agreement with the EU.
The whole issue, he said, is "blown out of proportion."
"The Eastern Partnership program is not an anti-Russian one,
cooperation with post-Soviet republics being beneficial to the
latters," he said.
Easter Partnership projects will not end with the Ukraine-EU
association and free trade agreements inking and initialing of similar
deals with Moldova and Georgia, the official said.
"Much depends on the expectations of the republics in question. While
Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova seek closer ties with the EU, other
states show more restraint," he said.
The official found it hard to say which of the 6 states involved in
the program will be ready to sign the free trade and association
agreements. "Much here depends on the EU's stance," he said, according
to Rosbalt.
Armenia completed technical talks on a `deep and comprehensive
free-trade agreement' (DCFTA) with the EU in July and it was set to be
signed at a summit with the EU in late November. In addition to a
free-trade deal, Armenia has been working towards the signing of an
association agreement with the EU, a framework agreement on
co-operation that is seen as a first step towards political
integration with the EU.
However, during a Sept 3 meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin, Armenian leader Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs
Union, with further plans to be involved in formation of the Eurasian
Economic Union. Mr. Putin supported the initiative, vowing procedural
assistance to Armenia.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt described Armenia's intention as a
U-turn in relations with the European Union. `Seems as if Armenia will
break talks on free trade agreement with EU and integrate with Russia
instead,' he said.
Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, which holds the
rotating EU presidency, said Armenia `has blocked its chances of
signing a free trade deal with the European Union by choosing to join
the Russia-led union.' `We respect any choice of countries but they
cannot enter both organizations at the same time because of different
tariff requirements,' he said.
In a separate statement, Linkevicius and seven other ministers from
Nordic and Baltic countries warned against Russian pressure on
post-Soviet states. `Any economic threat or political pressure
directed against Eastern partners because of their European
aspirations and engagement with the EU is unacceptable,' they said.
The European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy,
Stefan Fule said the Customs Union membership is not compatible with
the DCFTAs which have been negotiated with Ukraine, the Republic of
Moldova, Georgia and Armenia.
`This is not because of ideological differences; this is not about a
clash of economic blocs, or a zero-sum game. This is due to legal
impossibilities: for instance, you cannot at the same time lower your
customs tariffs as per the DCFTA and increase them as a result of the
Customs Union membership,' he said during the European Parliament
plenary meeting in Strasbourg in a statement on `the pressure
exercised by Russia on countries of the Eastern Partnership.'
`It may certainly be possible for members of the Eastern Partnership
to increase their cooperation with the Customs Union, perhaps as
observers; and participation in a DCFTA is of course fully compatible
with our partners' existing free trade agreements with other
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) states,' Fule said.
The Customs Union was formed in 2010 to include of Belarus,
Kazakhstan, and Russia; Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan later expressed
willingness to join the Union.
October 5, 2013 - 15:37 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Some post-Soviet republics' attempts for closer ties
with the EU are not aimed against Russia, Estonian Foreign Minister
said.
As Urmas Paet said in an interview with Interfax, there's no reason
for conflict even if Ukraine signs a free trade agreement with the EU.
The whole issue, he said, is "blown out of proportion."
"The Eastern Partnership program is not an anti-Russian one,
cooperation with post-Soviet republics being beneficial to the
latters," he said.
Easter Partnership projects will not end with the Ukraine-EU
association and free trade agreements inking and initialing of similar
deals with Moldova and Georgia, the official said.
"Much depends on the expectations of the republics in question. While
Ukraine, Georgia and Moldova seek closer ties with the EU, other
states show more restraint," he said.
The official found it hard to say which of the 6 states involved in
the program will be ready to sign the free trade and association
agreements. "Much here depends on the EU's stance," he said, according
to Rosbalt.
Armenia completed technical talks on a `deep and comprehensive
free-trade agreement' (DCFTA) with the EU in July and it was set to be
signed at a summit with the EU in late November. In addition to a
free-trade deal, Armenia has been working towards the signing of an
association agreement with the EU, a framework agreement on
co-operation that is seen as a first step towards political
integration with the EU.
However, during a Sept 3 meeting with Russian President Vladimir
Putin, Armenian leader Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs
Union, with further plans to be involved in formation of the Eurasian
Economic Union. Mr. Putin supported the initiative, vowing procedural
assistance to Armenia.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt described Armenia's intention as a
U-turn in relations with the European Union. `Seems as if Armenia will
break talks on free trade agreement with EU and integrate with Russia
instead,' he said.
Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, which holds the
rotating EU presidency, said Armenia `has blocked its chances of
signing a free trade deal with the European Union by choosing to join
the Russia-led union.' `We respect any choice of countries but they
cannot enter both organizations at the same time because of different
tariff requirements,' he said.
In a separate statement, Linkevicius and seven other ministers from
Nordic and Baltic countries warned against Russian pressure on
post-Soviet states. `Any economic threat or political pressure
directed against Eastern partners because of their European
aspirations and engagement with the EU is unacceptable,' they said.
The European Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy,
Stefan Fule said the Customs Union membership is not compatible with
the DCFTAs which have been negotiated with Ukraine, the Republic of
Moldova, Georgia and Armenia.
`This is not because of ideological differences; this is not about a
clash of economic blocs, or a zero-sum game. This is due to legal
impossibilities: for instance, you cannot at the same time lower your
customs tariffs as per the DCFTA and increase them as a result of the
Customs Union membership,' he said during the European Parliament
plenary meeting in Strasbourg in a statement on `the pressure
exercised by Russia on countries of the Eastern Partnership.'
`It may certainly be possible for members of the Eastern Partnership
to increase their cooperation with the Customs Union, perhaps as
observers; and participation in a DCFTA is of course fully compatible
with our partners' existing free trade agreements with other
Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) states,' Fule said.
The Customs Union was formed in 2010 to include of Belarus,
Kazakhstan, and Russia; Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan later expressed
willingness to join the Union.