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RUSSIAN OFFICIAL: ARMENIA READY TO JOIN CUSTOMS UNION IN SEVERAL MONTHS
October 25, 2013 - 15:20 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia seeks expedite the Customs Union accession
procedure, having expressed readiness to complete the process within
several months, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister said, according
to RBC.
As Igor Shuvalov told journalists after the Minsk-hosted Supreme
Eurasian Economic Council meeting, "Armenian President requested
the leader of the CU member states to speed up ratification of the
agreements."
According to the official, a decision on forming a work group to draw
a roadmap and assess the situation was passed upon Armenia's accession
to the CU. The work group will announce the results of its activity
at the next Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Moscow.
As Shuvalov noted, the CU accession talks with Yerevan are completely
different from similar negotiations with Kirghizstan which keeps
disagreeing on key issues and complicating the process.
"Armenia, on the other hand agrees to ratify the agreements which have
already been analyzed, with prior work launched a while ago. Yerevan
said it's ready to join the Union's legal base and adhere to norms
stipulated," he said.
Also, he added, Armenia expressed readiness to bring its domestic
legislation in compliance with the Customs Union demands.
A draft resolution on Armenia's accession to the Customs Union and
unified economic zone was approved at the Minsk-hosted Eurasian
Economic Council meeting.
Also submitted and confirmed were applications on Armenia's
participation in Eurasian integration and cooperation memorandum with
Eurasian Economic Commission.
Armenia completed technical talks on a 'deep and comprehensive
free-trade agreement' (DCFTA) with the EU in July and it was set
to be signed at a summit with the EU in late November. In addition
to a free-trade deal, Armenia has been working towards the signing
of an association agreement with the EU, a framework agreement on
co-operation that is seen as a first step towards political integration
with the EU.
However, during a Sept 3 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin,
Armenian leader Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs Union,
with further plans to be involved in formation of the Eurasian Economic
Union. Mr. Putin supported the initiative, vowing procedural assistance
to Armenia.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt described Armenia's intention as
a U-turn in relations with the European Union. "Seems as if Armenia
will break talks on free trade agreement with EU and integrate with
Russia instead," he said.
Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, which holds
the rotating EU presidency, said Armenia "has blocked its chances of
signing a free trade deal with the European Union by choosing to join
the Russia-led union." "We respect any choice of countries but they
cannot enter both organizations at the same time because of different
tariff requirements," he said.
However, Armenian leadership continues expression intention to expand
ties with the EU, which won't contradict Armenia's CU membership.
"Armenia will take part in the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit
in Vilnius and is ready to sign the Association Agreement," President
Serzh Sargsyan said at the October 2 PACE session.
"No Armenia-EU document is being readied to be signed at a Vilnius
summit," the spokesperson of the EU Commissioner Stefan Fule said.
"We're trying to find routes for further cooperation with Armenia,
based on the existing achievements," Peter Stano said.
October 25, 2013 - 15:20 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia seeks expedite the Customs Union accession
procedure, having expressed readiness to complete the process within
several months, Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister said, according
to RBC.
As Igor Shuvalov told journalists after the Minsk-hosted Supreme
Eurasian Economic Council meeting, "Armenian President requested
the leader of the CU member states to speed up ratification of the
agreements."
According to the official, a decision on forming a work group to draw
a roadmap and assess the situation was passed upon Armenia's accession
to the CU. The work group will announce the results of its activity
at the next Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Moscow.
As Shuvalov noted, the CU accession talks with Yerevan are completely
different from similar negotiations with Kirghizstan which keeps
disagreeing on key issues and complicating the process.
"Armenia, on the other hand agrees to ratify the agreements which have
already been analyzed, with prior work launched a while ago. Yerevan
said it's ready to join the Union's legal base and adhere to norms
stipulated," he said.
Also, he added, Armenia expressed readiness to bring its domestic
legislation in compliance with the Customs Union demands.
A draft resolution on Armenia's accession to the Customs Union and
unified economic zone was approved at the Minsk-hosted Eurasian
Economic Council meeting.
Also submitted and confirmed were applications on Armenia's
participation in Eurasian integration and cooperation memorandum with
Eurasian Economic Commission.
Armenia completed technical talks on a 'deep and comprehensive
free-trade agreement' (DCFTA) with the EU in July and it was set
to be signed at a summit with the EU in late November. In addition
to a free-trade deal, Armenia has been working towards the signing
of an association agreement with the EU, a framework agreement on
co-operation that is seen as a first step towards political integration
with the EU.
However, during a Sept 3 meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin,
Armenian leader Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs Union,
with further plans to be involved in formation of the Eurasian Economic
Union. Mr. Putin supported the initiative, vowing procedural assistance
to Armenia.
Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt described Armenia's intention as
a U-turn in relations with the European Union. "Seems as if Armenia
will break talks on free trade agreement with EU and integrate with
Russia instead," he said.
Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, which holds
the rotating EU presidency, said Armenia "has blocked its chances of
signing a free trade deal with the European Union by choosing to join
the Russia-led union." "We respect any choice of countries but they
cannot enter both organizations at the same time because of different
tariff requirements," he said.
However, Armenian leadership continues expression intention to expand
ties with the EU, which won't contradict Armenia's CU membership.
"Armenia will take part in the upcoming Eastern Partnership Summit
in Vilnius and is ready to sign the Association Agreement," President
Serzh Sargsyan said at the October 2 PACE session.
"No Armenia-EU document is being readied to be signed at a Vilnius
summit," the spokesperson of the EU Commissioner Stefan Fule said.
"We're trying to find routes for further cooperation with Armenia,
based on the existing achievements," Peter Stano said.