Tweet
VICE SPEAKER OF ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT RESPONDS TO STATEMENT OF AMBASSADOR TRAIAN HRISTEA
by Tatevik Shahunyan
ARMINFO
Tuesday, October 8, 14:12
Both official Yerevan and European Union are interested in further
close cooperation irrespective of the latest processes. The president
of Armenia reaffirmed this stance at the Parliament Assembly of the
Council of Europe along with high-ranking European officials. Remarks
came from Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament,
in response to ArmInfo's question regarding the statement the Head of
the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea made in an
interview with ArmInfo. In particular, Ambassador Hristea said that
initialing only the political part of the Association Agreement with
Armenia at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius is impossible.
"Time will show how closely will be cooperating Armenia and the EU
and whether that cooperation will be backed with the Association
Agreement or any other document. There is no doubt, however, that
active cooperation of Yerevan and Brussels will continue irrespective
of the ongoing processes. Armenia is determined to continue the
dialogue with Europe and the democratic reforms in line all the strict
European standards," Sharmazanov said.
Speaking at PACE, President Serzh Sargsyan and Vice Speaker Eduard
Sharmazanov reaffirmed Armenia's readiness to initial the Association
Agreement with the EU at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius
in November without the economic component, namely, the DCFTA.
In response to ArmInfo's request to comment on the given statement,
Head of the EU Delegation to Armenian, Ambassador Traian Hristea,
said that Association Agreement with Armenia is impossible if any of
its components is omitted.
Mr. Hristea recalled that European Commissioner Stefan Fule said in
the course of his latest visit to Armenia that the negotiations on
the Association Agreement covered some provisions, specifically, the
structure- and system-related components, the component on the Deep
and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as well as a provision
on free movement of persons. Therefore, DCFTA cannot be mechanically
separated from the Association Agreement, he said.
Negotiations for the Association Agreement with Armenia faced a
deadlock after President Serzh Sargsyan declared that Armenia is
ready to access Russia-initiated Customs Union. European officials
say that the Customs Union regulations run contrary to the ones of
the Association Agreement, particularly, when it comes to economic
aspects, DCFTA. In response, President Sargsyan has declared at the
PACE lately that Yerevan is ready to initial the Association Agreement
with the EU already in November, at the EPP Summit in Vilnius if the
economic component (DCFTA) is omitted if it contradicts the Customs
Union regulations.
by Tatevik Shahunyan
ARMINFO
Tuesday, October 8, 14:12
Both official Yerevan and European Union are interested in further
close cooperation irrespective of the latest processes. The president
of Armenia reaffirmed this stance at the Parliament Assembly of the
Council of Europe along with high-ranking European officials. Remarks
came from Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament,
in response to ArmInfo's question regarding the statement the Head of
the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea made in an
interview with ArmInfo. In particular, Ambassador Hristea said that
initialing only the political part of the Association Agreement with
Armenia at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius is impossible.
"Time will show how closely will be cooperating Armenia and the EU
and whether that cooperation will be backed with the Association
Agreement or any other document. There is no doubt, however, that
active cooperation of Yerevan and Brussels will continue irrespective
of the ongoing processes. Armenia is determined to continue the
dialogue with Europe and the democratic reforms in line all the strict
European standards," Sharmazanov said.
Speaking at PACE, President Serzh Sargsyan and Vice Speaker Eduard
Sharmazanov reaffirmed Armenia's readiness to initial the Association
Agreement with the EU at the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius
in November without the economic component, namely, the DCFTA.
In response to ArmInfo's request to comment on the given statement,
Head of the EU Delegation to Armenian, Ambassador Traian Hristea,
said that Association Agreement with Armenia is impossible if any of
its components is omitted.
Mr. Hristea recalled that European Commissioner Stefan Fule said in
the course of his latest visit to Armenia that the negotiations on
the Association Agreement covered some provisions, specifically, the
structure- and system-related components, the component on the Deep
and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), as well as a provision
on free movement of persons. Therefore, DCFTA cannot be mechanically
separated from the Association Agreement, he said.
Negotiations for the Association Agreement with Armenia faced a
deadlock after President Serzh Sargsyan declared that Armenia is
ready to access Russia-initiated Customs Union. European officials
say that the Customs Union regulations run contrary to the ones of
the Association Agreement, particularly, when it comes to economic
aspects, DCFTA. In response, President Sargsyan has declared at the
PACE lately that Yerevan is ready to initial the Association Agreement
with the EU already in November, at the EPP Summit in Vilnius if the
economic component (DCFTA) is omitted if it contradicts the Customs
Union regulations.