EP FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: "BEING A FULL MEMBER OF THE CUSTOMS UNION, ARMENIA CAN'T HAVE AN ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT WITH THE EUROPEAN UNION"
APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013
[ 04 September 2013 12:50 ]
Elmar Brok: "Armenia is under incredible pressure from Russia because
of the difficult situation towards Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh"
Baku. Ankhanum Hidayatova - APA. "Being a full member of the Customs
Union, Armenia can't have an association agreement with the European
Union," said a German member of the European Parliament and chairman
of its Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok, APA reports quoting
Radio Liberty.
"I am very sorry for that. I discussed it with the Armenian
president, too. We know that Armenia is under incredible pressure
from Russia because of the difficult situation towards Azerbaijan and
Nagorno-Karabakh. There is all this pressure. A small country like
Armenia was blackmailed to make such a decision. I feel very sorry
because it is legally not possible to be a full member both of the
Customs Union and have an association agreement and free trade area
agreement with the European Union," said Elmar Brok.
Brok said that there would be a relationship as we have with every
country but not a relationship with a European perspective. He
disagreed with the views that the EU let Armenia down and that this
is the reason why Armenia opted for the Customs Union instead: "I
think that is a propaganda argument for population. We were ready to
negotiate an agreement with them and go forward with that in Vilnius
and that was very clear. The reason behind this development is the
blackmailing pressure by Russia."
APA, Azerbaijan
Sept 4 2013
[ 04 September 2013 12:50 ]
Elmar Brok: "Armenia is under incredible pressure from Russia because
of the difficult situation towards Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh"
Baku. Ankhanum Hidayatova - APA. "Being a full member of the Customs
Union, Armenia can't have an association agreement with the European
Union," said a German member of the European Parliament and chairman
of its Foreign Affairs Committee Elmar Brok, APA reports quoting
Radio Liberty.
"I am very sorry for that. I discussed it with the Armenian
president, too. We know that Armenia is under incredible pressure
from Russia because of the difficult situation towards Azerbaijan and
Nagorno-Karabakh. There is all this pressure. A small country like
Armenia was blackmailed to make such a decision. I feel very sorry
because it is legally not possible to be a full member both of the
Customs Union and have an association agreement and free trade area
agreement with the European Union," said Elmar Brok.
Brok said that there would be a relationship as we have with every
country but not a relationship with a European perspective. He
disagreed with the views that the EU let Armenia down and that this
is the reason why Armenia opted for the Customs Union instead: "I
think that is a propaganda argument for population. We were ready to
negotiate an agreement with them and go forward with that in Vilnius
and that was very clear. The reason behind this development is the
blackmailing pressure by Russia."