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ARMENIA WILL REAFFIRM ITS POSITION ON EURASIAN UNION IN MINSK, SAYS POLITICIAN
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/10/23/andrias-ghukasyan-mm/
17:02 ~U 23.10.13
In an interview with Tert.am, former presidential candidate Andrias
Ghukasyan said he expects Armenia to reaffirm its willingness to join
the Eurasian Union at the upcoming Eurasian Economic Summit in Minsk
(Belarus).
Mr Ghukasyan, Gunnar Wiegand, the chief negotiator of the EU Eastern
Neighborhood project, said in Yerevan yesterday that the EU doesn't
plan any rephrasing in the Association Agreement. Belarus, on the
other hand, says Armenia cannot accede to the Customs Union either
this or next year. It was reported today that Kazakhstan says the
CU hasn't yet proven its value to necessitate a rapid integration
process. Neither does the European Union where the process of agreeing
on details lasts several years.
The Armenian authorities are at loose ends now.
Nevertheless, [FM] Edward Nalbandian will be in Minsk tomorrow to
attend the Eurasian Economic Council's summit. So, a certain process
is expected.
I think a political statement will be made, expressing Armenia's
willingness to accede to the Eurasian Union.
And will the start of the process be announced?
It is hard to say, as that will depend on the domestic political
developments in Armenia. The ruling force's position can generally be
considered critical in Armenia. There is a political crisis, without
naturally any expectation that a certain group of people can introduce
Armenia in certain international processes.
The political statement was made on September 3, expressing [Armenia's]
willingness for the Customs Union membership process. And is that
expected to be on a new level?
I don't think the representatives of the states attending the Minsk
summit will introduce their visions. As to whether it will be a united
or common statement, we'll see that in a couple of days. But the
meeting aims to clarify those states' willingness to pursue that path.
And I don't think Armenia's position in the present circumstances can
be different from what [President] Serzh Sargsyan said on September 3.
I think it will be a political declaration reaffirming the fact that
Serzh Sargsyan has decided to join the Customs Union.
Nonetheless, two of the members warn us against joining the Customs
Union.
Neither Belarus nor Kazakhstan would benefit from Armenia's membership
in the Customs Union as [the country] does not have any potential
for those states - either politically or economically - and it thus
becomes a rival in the CU frameworks. Armenia is a 'subsidized state'
where the authorities think all the time whether the EU, the Eurasian
Union or anyone else has to take care of the country. That's the
main agenda. As to why it is at loose ends, that's because no one is
going to provide for Armenia. The theory that Armenia has to implement
reforms in return for money or Armenia will be given money and deliver
military services in return, they do not work anymore.
And what is Russia's position on this kind of statements? Are they
made with its knowledge or has it assumed the neutral observer role?
Russia will try to do everything possible to assist in [President]
Serzh Sargsyan's efforts to maintain power in Armenia. As to whether or
not it exercises any intervention, Russia does not have any economic
or political patronage in relation to Armenia today; hence it will be
limited to its observer status, holding on to its key task, i.e. that
the country's top official be Russia's henchman.
It is widely discussed that certain developments in Armenia will
depend on whether or not Ukraine will sign the Association Agreement
with the EU.
There is no progress for Armenia as long as the the ruling regime is
at the helm of power. It is pointless to talk about that. There are
a group of people today, who maintain their political and economic
power without being able to ensure an economic development. They were
hopeful to do that through the West or Russia. All those hopes were
reduced to zero in the past months. And the fact people are facing
today is that Armenia will not get any foreign funding or aid as long
as that regime holds power..
And will the pensions or salaries rise in that case?
An increase in the pensions or salaries was a promise by people who
gave assurance that the gas tariffs or the transport fares would
not rise. Statements by such people should not be taken for granted
because those are statements intended to create an impression that
those people are concerned by the society's well-being.
Armenian News - Tert.am
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2013/10/23/andrias-ghukasyan-mm/
17:02 ~U 23.10.13
In an interview with Tert.am, former presidential candidate Andrias
Ghukasyan said he expects Armenia to reaffirm its willingness to join
the Eurasian Union at the upcoming Eurasian Economic Summit in Minsk
(Belarus).
Mr Ghukasyan, Gunnar Wiegand, the chief negotiator of the EU Eastern
Neighborhood project, said in Yerevan yesterday that the EU doesn't
plan any rephrasing in the Association Agreement. Belarus, on the
other hand, says Armenia cannot accede to the Customs Union either
this or next year. It was reported today that Kazakhstan says the
CU hasn't yet proven its value to necessitate a rapid integration
process. Neither does the European Union where the process of agreeing
on details lasts several years.
The Armenian authorities are at loose ends now.
Nevertheless, [FM] Edward Nalbandian will be in Minsk tomorrow to
attend the Eurasian Economic Council's summit. So, a certain process
is expected.
I think a political statement will be made, expressing Armenia's
willingness to accede to the Eurasian Union.
And will the start of the process be announced?
It is hard to say, as that will depend on the domestic political
developments in Armenia. The ruling force's position can generally be
considered critical in Armenia. There is a political crisis, without
naturally any expectation that a certain group of people can introduce
Armenia in certain international processes.
The political statement was made on September 3, expressing [Armenia's]
willingness for the Customs Union membership process. And is that
expected to be on a new level?
I don't think the representatives of the states attending the Minsk
summit will introduce their visions. As to whether it will be a united
or common statement, we'll see that in a couple of days. But the
meeting aims to clarify those states' willingness to pursue that path.
And I don't think Armenia's position in the present circumstances can
be different from what [President] Serzh Sargsyan said on September 3.
I think it will be a political declaration reaffirming the fact that
Serzh Sargsyan has decided to join the Customs Union.
Nonetheless, two of the members warn us against joining the Customs
Union.
Neither Belarus nor Kazakhstan would benefit from Armenia's membership
in the Customs Union as [the country] does not have any potential
for those states - either politically or economically - and it thus
becomes a rival in the CU frameworks. Armenia is a 'subsidized state'
where the authorities think all the time whether the EU, the Eurasian
Union or anyone else has to take care of the country. That's the
main agenda. As to why it is at loose ends, that's because no one is
going to provide for Armenia. The theory that Armenia has to implement
reforms in return for money or Armenia will be given money and deliver
military services in return, they do not work anymore.
And what is Russia's position on this kind of statements? Are they
made with its knowledge or has it assumed the neutral observer role?
Russia will try to do everything possible to assist in [President]
Serzh Sargsyan's efforts to maintain power in Armenia. As to whether or
not it exercises any intervention, Russia does not have any economic
or political patronage in relation to Armenia today; hence it will be
limited to its observer status, holding on to its key task, i.e. that
the country's top official be Russia's henchman.
It is widely discussed that certain developments in Armenia will
depend on whether or not Ukraine will sign the Association Agreement
with the EU.
There is no progress for Armenia as long as the the ruling regime is
at the helm of power. It is pointless to talk about that. There are
a group of people today, who maintain their political and economic
power without being able to ensure an economic development. They were
hopeful to do that through the West or Russia. All those hopes were
reduced to zero in the past months. And the fact people are facing
today is that Armenia will not get any foreign funding or aid as long
as that regime holds power..
And will the pensions or salaries rise in that case?
An increase in the pensions or salaries was a promise by people who
gave assurance that the gas tariffs or the transport fares would
not rise. Statements by such people should not be taken for granted
because those are statements intended to create an impression that
those people are concerned by the society's well-being.
Armenian News - Tert.am