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ARMENIA FACES THE MUSIC AFTER OPTING FOR RUSSIA-LED CUSTOMS UNION
http://www.armenianow.com/news/48179/armenia_eu_moscow_customs_union_serzh_sargsyan_lit huania
NEWS | 04.09.13 | 09:01
Armenia has blocked its chances of signing a free trade deal with
the European Union by choosing to join the Russia-led customs union,
EU president Lithuania said Tuesday, commenting on President Serzh
Sargsyan's announcement in Moscow.
After talks with his Russian counterpart earlier on Tuesday Sargsyan
said that Armenia has decided to join the Customs Union, currently
including Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and later participate in
the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union.
"The EU respects the decision announced by the Armenian president in
Moscow, but the two systems are incompatible," Lithuanian Foreign
Minister Linas Linkevicius told AFP referring to Armenia's earlier
aspirations to sign an Association Agreement and establish a Deep
and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the European Union.
"We respect any choice of countries but they cannot enter both
organizations at the same time because of different tariff
requirements," said the official.
In a separate statement on Tuesday, Linkevicius and seven other
ministers from Nordic and Baltic countries warned against Russian
pressure on post-Soviet states.
"Any economic threat or political pressure directed against Eastern
partners because of their European aspirations and engagement with
the EU is unacceptable," they said.
http://www.armenianow.com/news/48179/armenia_eu_moscow_customs_union_serzh_sargsyan_lit huania
NEWS | 04.09.13 | 09:01
Armenia has blocked its chances of signing a free trade deal with
the European Union by choosing to join the Russia-led customs union,
EU president Lithuania said Tuesday, commenting on President Serzh
Sargsyan's announcement in Moscow.
After talks with his Russian counterpart earlier on Tuesday Sargsyan
said that Armenia has decided to join the Customs Union, currently
including Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, and later participate in
the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union.
"The EU respects the decision announced by the Armenian president in
Moscow, but the two systems are incompatible," Lithuanian Foreign
Minister Linas Linkevicius told AFP referring to Armenia's earlier
aspirations to sign an Association Agreement and establish a Deep
and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the European Union.
"We respect any choice of countries but they cannot enter both
organizations at the same time because of different tariff
requirements," said the official.
In a separate statement on Tuesday, Linkevicius and seven other
ministers from Nordic and Baltic countries warned against Russian
pressure on post-Soviet states.
"Any economic threat or political pressure directed against Eastern
partners because of their European aspirations and engagement with
the EU is unacceptable," they said.