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WE DEMOLISHED THE HUGE HOUSE, NOW WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD A LITTLE HUT
October 9 2013
EU Association Agreement enables to join free trade zones
Yesterday, Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan met with
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy Catherine Ashton in Brussels. According to the official
information, the RA Foreign Minister reiterated the position of
official Yerevan of the last few weeks: Armenia seeks to promote
the cooperation with the EU in all possible directions, based on
joint achievements and progress that, in recent years, have been
registered in Armenia-EU relations. "We are determined to continue
the reform process towards enhancement of democracy, human rights
and the rule of law, good governance, improvement of the judiciary
system, and the fight against corruption. In this process, we expect
the EU's continued support," said he. Nalbandyan said that there is a
serious potential in the field of sectoral cooperation that includes
dozens of ways. He indicated the Framework Agreement protocol that was
signed last December between the UN and Armenia, by which Armenia is
having an opportunity to participate in various EU projects. Ashton,
in her turn, noted that the EU wants to continue the development of
comprehensive cooperation with Armenia in all directions, which would
be consistent with Armenia's decision of joining the Customs Union.
Prior to this meeting, Ashton's Press Speaker Maya Kochiyanchich, to
the correction question of "Liberty" radio station whether ahead to
Vilnius summit, especially what issues will be discussed between Ashton
and Nalbandyan, answered, "You know that the EU remains committed
to deepening ties with Armenia, but we are well aware of Armenia's
recent decision, and this is a step forward for both parties. I mean,
Armenia and the EU have issues to be discussed, and this is a good
opportunity." To the question whether it is possible that any kind of
document may be signed in Vilnius, Kochiyanchich said, "The EU will
continue to deepen its relations with Armenia, but this, of course,
is possible only in those areas that are compatible with Yerevan's
recently announced joining the Customs Union." While the Minister
was traveling to Brussels, a revelation sounded from Ukraine's Prime
Minister in these days, which might be instructive for Armenia's
authorities and especially for those who consider signing of the
EU Association Agreement a loss of sovereignty for Armenia. So,
two days ago, in Minsk, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko
has accepted Ukraine's Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov. The latter,
expressing his gratitude to the leaders of Belarus for accepting
Ukraine's decision to sign the EU Association Agreement restrained
and balanced, expressed a remarkable idea, "Of course, Ukraine is not
just setting a goal to be with the EU and the Customs Union countries.
Ukraine is doomed to this partnership. We are neighbors, we have
borders with Belarus, RF and the EU." And before leaving for Minsk,
Azarov, answering the questions of "Sovetskaya Belorussia" newspaper,
argued that signing the Association Agreement, will not be deprived
of Ukraine's sovereignty and the right to make decisions, and has
made such a disclosure, "There is a special Article in the Agreement,
and the EU has officially approved it, which enables us to join the
free trade zones, sign contract with the customs unions. This is our
sovereign right." Interestingly, have the authorities of Armenia and,
in particular, Armenia's Foreign Ministry forgotten about the existence
of this Article in the EU Association Agreement?... Wasn't it possible
to sign the EU Association Agreement in Vilnius summit, and to build
relationships with the CU based on the logic of aforesaid Article? Now,
the meetings with European diplomats and assurance of the official
Yerevan that "Armenia is ready to ...", of course, are important as
a formal diplomatic message by the official Yerevan, but it leaves
the impression that, as if what we have, a sandy huge house, we have
demolished it with our own hands in one shot, now we are trying to
build at least a small hut, when there was no need to demolish the huge
house, we might have continued the cooperation with the Customs Union
(if the structure, of course, was to prove its viability over time),
not at the expense of the EU Association Agreement. In general, it
leaves the impression that RA authorities simply freed themselves
from Moscow's possible pressures. And that the pressures continue
to grow at a larger scale, we are informed from foreign mass media
almost on daily basis. Recently, the RF sanitary services stopped
the import of dairy products from Lithuania due to the claims to the
quality, announced the chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko. And,
yesterday, Onishchenko announced that the RF Sanitary service will
not allow the sale of 28 samples of Georgian alcohol in the Russian
market. He said that as a result of analysis of samples, 28 expert
conclusions were drawn, pursuant to which, the samples do not meet
the requirements of the Russian side. In the Russian arsenal, the
"accusations" against the former Soviet Republics in commercial
matters, as always, are the same; there is no even a fantasy...
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/10/09/161950/
October 9 2013
EU Association Agreement enables to join free trade zones
Yesterday, Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan met with
High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security
Policy Catherine Ashton in Brussels. According to the official
information, the RA Foreign Minister reiterated the position of
official Yerevan of the last few weeks: Armenia seeks to promote
the cooperation with the EU in all possible directions, based on
joint achievements and progress that, in recent years, have been
registered in Armenia-EU relations. "We are determined to continue
the reform process towards enhancement of democracy, human rights
and the rule of law, good governance, improvement of the judiciary
system, and the fight against corruption. In this process, we expect
the EU's continued support," said he. Nalbandyan said that there is a
serious potential in the field of sectoral cooperation that includes
dozens of ways. He indicated the Framework Agreement protocol that was
signed last December between the UN and Armenia, by which Armenia is
having an opportunity to participate in various EU projects. Ashton,
in her turn, noted that the EU wants to continue the development of
comprehensive cooperation with Armenia in all directions, which would
be consistent with Armenia's decision of joining the Customs Union.
Prior to this meeting, Ashton's Press Speaker Maya Kochiyanchich, to
the correction question of "Liberty" radio station whether ahead to
Vilnius summit, especially what issues will be discussed between Ashton
and Nalbandyan, answered, "You know that the EU remains committed
to deepening ties with Armenia, but we are well aware of Armenia's
recent decision, and this is a step forward for both parties. I mean,
Armenia and the EU have issues to be discussed, and this is a good
opportunity." To the question whether it is possible that any kind of
document may be signed in Vilnius, Kochiyanchich said, "The EU will
continue to deepen its relations with Armenia, but this, of course,
is possible only in those areas that are compatible with Yerevan's
recently announced joining the Customs Union." While the Minister
was traveling to Brussels, a revelation sounded from Ukraine's Prime
Minister in these days, which might be instructive for Armenia's
authorities and especially for those who consider signing of the
EU Association Agreement a loss of sovereignty for Armenia. So,
two days ago, in Minsk, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko
has accepted Ukraine's Prime Minister Nikolai Azarov. The latter,
expressing his gratitude to the leaders of Belarus for accepting
Ukraine's decision to sign the EU Association Agreement restrained
and balanced, expressed a remarkable idea, "Of course, Ukraine is not
just setting a goal to be with the EU and the Customs Union countries.
Ukraine is doomed to this partnership. We are neighbors, we have
borders with Belarus, RF and the EU." And before leaving for Minsk,
Azarov, answering the questions of "Sovetskaya Belorussia" newspaper,
argued that signing the Association Agreement, will not be deprived
of Ukraine's sovereignty and the right to make decisions, and has
made such a disclosure, "There is a special Article in the Agreement,
and the EU has officially approved it, which enables us to join the
free trade zones, sign contract with the customs unions. This is our
sovereign right." Interestingly, have the authorities of Armenia and,
in particular, Armenia's Foreign Ministry forgotten about the existence
of this Article in the EU Association Agreement?... Wasn't it possible
to sign the EU Association Agreement in Vilnius summit, and to build
relationships with the CU based on the logic of aforesaid Article? Now,
the meetings with European diplomats and assurance of the official
Yerevan that "Armenia is ready to ...", of course, are important as
a formal diplomatic message by the official Yerevan, but it leaves
the impression that, as if what we have, a sandy huge house, we have
demolished it with our own hands in one shot, now we are trying to
build at least a small hut, when there was no need to demolish the huge
house, we might have continued the cooperation with the Customs Union
(if the structure, of course, was to prove its viability over time),
not at the expense of the EU Association Agreement. In general, it
leaves the impression that RA authorities simply freed themselves
from Moscow's possible pressures. And that the pressures continue
to grow at a larger scale, we are informed from foreign mass media
almost on daily basis. Recently, the RF sanitary services stopped
the import of dairy products from Lithuania due to the claims to the
quality, announced the chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko. And,
yesterday, Onishchenko announced that the RF Sanitary service will
not allow the sale of 28 samples of Georgian alcohol in the Russian
market. He said that as a result of analysis of samples, 28 expert
conclusions were drawn, pursuant to which, the samples do not meet
the requirements of the Russian side. In the Russian arsenal, the
"accusations" against the former Soviet Republics in commercial
matters, as always, are the same; there is no even a fantasy...
Emma GABRIELYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/10/09/161950/