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LITHUANIAN OFFICIALS: ARMENIA-EU PROCESS RELAUNCH MAY TAKE YEARS
October 9, 2013 - 17:02 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Representatives of the Lithuanian government warned
against expectations for initialing any version of the Armenia-EU
association agreement at a Vilnius Eastern Partnership summit next
month.
A number of Lithuanian officials who asked to remain anonymous noted
the initialling of the deal to be impossible for several reasons,
one of them being time frame. With only several weeks left till the
summit launch, introducing amendments to a several hundred pages-long
document is impossible, the officials note. Also, the association
agreement being viewed as a single document, a new mandate from
the European Commission or EU member states is necessary to pick
out and sign certain parts of the document. As the officials note,
the process should be started over again with several months if not
years necessary to complete it.
According them, disappointed over Armenia's unexpected decision to
join the Russia-led Customs Union, European officials aren't motivated
to alter the document before the start of the summit.
Lithuanian officials, however, show understanding for Armenian
decision, explaining it by Russia's pressure.
Lithuania's parliamentary vice-speaker Petras Austrevicius, by
contrast, was harsh in his criticism of Armenia's decision, noting
that it came as an unpleasant surprise to Europeans, also violating
the principles of transparency and consistency.
"By joining the Customs Union, Armenia will be missing on its chances
for Eurointegration, also having lower status in EU partnership
compared with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia," RFE/RL Armenian service
quoted him as saying.
Photo: armenianleaders.wordpress.com
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/171037/
October 9, 2013 - 17:02 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Representatives of the Lithuanian government warned
against expectations for initialing any version of the Armenia-EU
association agreement at a Vilnius Eastern Partnership summit next
month.
A number of Lithuanian officials who asked to remain anonymous noted
the initialling of the deal to be impossible for several reasons,
one of them being time frame. With only several weeks left till the
summit launch, introducing amendments to a several hundred pages-long
document is impossible, the officials note. Also, the association
agreement being viewed as a single document, a new mandate from
the European Commission or EU member states is necessary to pick
out and sign certain parts of the document. As the officials note,
the process should be started over again with several months if not
years necessary to complete it.
According them, disappointed over Armenia's unexpected decision to
join the Russia-led Customs Union, European officials aren't motivated
to alter the document before the start of the summit.
Lithuanian officials, however, show understanding for Armenian
decision, explaining it by Russia's pressure.
Lithuania's parliamentary vice-speaker Petras Austrevicius, by
contrast, was harsh in his criticism of Armenia's decision, noting
that it came as an unpleasant surprise to Europeans, also violating
the principles of transparency and consistency.
"By joining the Customs Union, Armenia will be missing on its chances
for Eurointegration, also having lower status in EU partnership
compared with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia," RFE/RL Armenian service
quoted him as saying.
Photo: armenianleaders.wordpress.com
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/171037/