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EUFOA CHIEF: EP REJECTED PRO-AZERI FORMULATIONS ON KARABAKH
October 24, 2013 - 17:37 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The Plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg
adopted two reports outlining amongst others its approach towards
Armenia, for the first time since the announcement of President
Sargsyan to join the Russian dominated Customs Union.
"There was a strange mood in the EP in recent weeks, which I have
never seen before. MEPs shared a mix of worries for the independence
of Armenia and disappointment after almost 4 years of successful
reforms and finalisation of the negotiations for the Association
Agreement and the DCFTA." EuFoA Secretary General Dr Michael Kambeck
told PanARMENIAN.Net
"On top, a small group of caviar corrupted MEPs tried to misuse
the situation to punish Armenia with the sudden inclusion of
pro-Azerbaijani formulations regarding the Karabakh conflict. In
the end, this has been exposed, and the MEP most strongly behind
this, Pino Arlacchi, is even facing disciplinary actions for his
recent blatantly pro-governmental Election Observation Report from
Azerbaijan. The EP stood by Armenia and underlined that the EU is
still ready to help Armenia with its most pressing homework, i.e.
strengthening the economy, governance and democracy."
The report on the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Eastern part
of which was drafted by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, expresses hopes "that
Armenia will continue EU-related reforms, the implementation of which
could lead to the country's economic prosperity and could help solve
socio-economic and political problems which still persist within the
country." More importantly, it "calls for a pursuit of cooperation with
the EU, to which the EU is open; Welcomes the implementation of sound
macroeconomic policies and structural reforms in Armenia and further
progress towards meeting the objectives of the [ENP-] Action Plan;"
A paragraph on Nagorno-Karabakh, originally drafted by Pino Arlacchi
and Ivo Vajgl to cherry pick the elements preferred by Azerbaijan,
was reduced in the Plenary to focus on the Minsk Group proposed Basic
Principles, which contain the points important to both sides of the
conflict, including the withdrawal of troops, but also the necessary
security guarantees, the status of Karabakh etc.
The report by Elmar Brok on the Common Foreign and Security Policy
reaffirms that the EU proposed programmes are offers made for countries
like Armenia to freely choose, and that this offer remains on the
table "on the basis of shared common values and solidarity, and to
share with them [explicitly including Armenia] all the advantages of
the EU acquis, along the lines of an Economic Area Plus arrangement".
Brok, who is also a member of the Europe-Armenia Advisory Council,
explained the EU's interest in the Plenary: "the development of Europe
depends on the development of the Southern and Eastern neighbourhood.
If there is a Southern and Eastern partnership with growing democracy,
rule of law, economic prosperity and better living conditions, then
this is the best security policy [for the EU]." He reminded also that
Europe has demonstrated many times that democracy and the rule of law
make countries successful, but that the decisions for each country's
orientation remains in its own capital," Kambeck said.
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/171733/EuFoA_chief_EP_rejected_proAzeri_formulations_on_K arabakh
From: Baghdasarian
October 24, 2013 - 17:37 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - The Plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg
adopted two reports outlining amongst others its approach towards
Armenia, for the first time since the announcement of President
Sargsyan to join the Russian dominated Customs Union.
"There was a strange mood in the EP in recent weeks, which I have
never seen before. MEPs shared a mix of worries for the independence
of Armenia and disappointment after almost 4 years of successful
reforms and finalisation of the negotiations for the Association
Agreement and the DCFTA." EuFoA Secretary General Dr Michael Kambeck
told PanARMENIAN.Net
"On top, a small group of caviar corrupted MEPs tried to misuse
the situation to punish Armenia with the sudden inclusion of
pro-Azerbaijani formulations regarding the Karabakh conflict. In
the end, this has been exposed, and the MEP most strongly behind
this, Pino Arlacchi, is even facing disciplinary actions for his
recent blatantly pro-governmental Election Observation Report from
Azerbaijan. The EP stood by Armenia and underlined that the EU is
still ready to help Armenia with its most pressing homework, i.e.
strengthening the economy, governance and democracy."
The report on the European Neighbourhood Policy, the Eastern part
of which was drafted by Jacek Saryusz-Wolski, expresses hopes "that
Armenia will continue EU-related reforms, the implementation of which
could lead to the country's economic prosperity and could help solve
socio-economic and political problems which still persist within the
country." More importantly, it "calls for a pursuit of cooperation with
the EU, to which the EU is open; Welcomes the implementation of sound
macroeconomic policies and structural reforms in Armenia and further
progress towards meeting the objectives of the [ENP-] Action Plan;"
A paragraph on Nagorno-Karabakh, originally drafted by Pino Arlacchi
and Ivo Vajgl to cherry pick the elements preferred by Azerbaijan,
was reduced in the Plenary to focus on the Minsk Group proposed Basic
Principles, which contain the points important to both sides of the
conflict, including the withdrawal of troops, but also the necessary
security guarantees, the status of Karabakh etc.
The report by Elmar Brok on the Common Foreign and Security Policy
reaffirms that the EU proposed programmes are offers made for countries
like Armenia to freely choose, and that this offer remains on the
table "on the basis of shared common values and solidarity, and to
share with them [explicitly including Armenia] all the advantages of
the EU acquis, along the lines of an Economic Area Plus arrangement".
Brok, who is also a member of the Europe-Armenia Advisory Council,
explained the EU's interest in the Plenary: "the development of Europe
depends on the development of the Southern and Eastern neighbourhood.
If there is a Southern and Eastern partnership with growing democracy,
rule of law, economic prosperity and better living conditions, then
this is the best security policy [for the EU]." He reminded also that
Europe has demonstrated many times that democracy and the rule of law
make countries successful, but that the decisions for each country's
orientation remains in its own capital," Kambeck said.
http://www.panarmenian.net/eng/news/171733/EuFoA_chief_EP_rejected_proAzeri_formulations_on_K arabakh
From: Baghdasarian