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Armenia, Ukraine face similar problems: expert
September 7, 2013 - 12:39 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia's intention to join the Customs Union
resembled the situation in Ukraine, a political analyst said.
`On the one hand, both countries are bound with Russia. On the other
hand, both are strongly attracted by the European values, or at least
say so. In both countries, the public opinion is divided, some
standing for close cooperation with Russia and some striving for
Europe. Furthermore, both countries are under pressure of Russia and
European Union, each trying to tip the scale,' Mikhail Beletskiy said.
According to him, unilateral orientation to the West or Russia can
result in serious losses. `For Ukraine, it can be a complete collapse
of economy. Armenia can face even a greater loss if Nagorno Karabakh
is transferred to a hostile neighbor state. Under the circumstances,
Armenia could nothing but strengthen the union with Russia, which is
its own real ally in the region,' the expert said.
`As a result, Ukraine and Armenia, although still trying to pursue a
two-vector policy, have chosen different paths. Ukraine preferred the
European Union as the main direction, with some limited cooperation
with the CIS member states while Armenia is headed for Russia. Time
will show which of the decision was right,' he said, according to
AnalitikaUA.net.
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.
During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian
leader Serzh Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs Union,
with further plans to be involved in formation of EurAsEC.
Putin supported the initiative, voicing readiness to assist Armenia in
the process. He also noted that Russian Railways may invest 15 billion
rubles in development of Armenia's railway network.
The Customs Union was formed in 2010 to include of Belarus,
Kazakhstan, and Russia; Kirghizia and Tajikistan later expressed
willingness to join the Union.
The reaction of European officials continues to be diverse.
When in St. Petersburg to attend the G20 summit, European Council
President Herman Van Rompuy said that Armenia, Moldova, and, if
possible, Ukraine will hopefully sign the Association Agreement at the
Vilnius Summit in November 2013.
`This is a political agreement. The Agreement would allow Armenia to
go through comprehensive change both politically and economically.
Therefore, after getting the news about Armenia's plans of joining the
Custom's Union the EU expects to hear from Armenia what her further
plans are. We have not received official explanations from Armenia,
yet we don't think this is a zero sum game and the same refers to
Ukraine. Some benchmarks will be necessary to meet. There are some
outstanding issues but we hope to see results in Vilnius. We are still
engaged with these countries and still expect to sign the Association
Agreements,' he said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, said that the European
Parliament is not going to initialize either the Associated Agreement
or the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Armenia, as it's
not compatible with membership in the Customs Union.
September 7, 2013 - 12:39 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia's intention to join the Customs Union
resembled the situation in Ukraine, a political analyst said.
`On the one hand, both countries are bound with Russia. On the other
hand, both are strongly attracted by the European values, or at least
say so. In both countries, the public opinion is divided, some
standing for close cooperation with Russia and some striving for
Europe. Furthermore, both countries are under pressure of Russia and
European Union, each trying to tip the scale,' Mikhail Beletskiy said.
According to him, unilateral orientation to the West or Russia can
result in serious losses. `For Ukraine, it can be a complete collapse
of economy. Armenia can face even a greater loss if Nagorno Karabakh
is transferred to a hostile neighbor state. Under the circumstances,
Armenia could nothing but strengthen the union with Russia, which is
its own real ally in the region,' the expert said.
`As a result, Ukraine and Armenia, although still trying to pursue a
two-vector policy, have chosen different paths. Ukraine preferred the
European Union as the main direction, with some limited cooperation
with the CIS member states while Armenia is headed for Russia. Time
will show which of the decision was right,' he said, according to
AnalitikaUA.net.
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.
During a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian
leader Serzh Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs Union,
with further plans to be involved in formation of EurAsEC.
Putin supported the initiative, voicing readiness to assist Armenia in
the process. He also noted that Russian Railways may invest 15 billion
rubles in development of Armenia's railway network.
The Customs Union was formed in 2010 to include of Belarus,
Kazakhstan, and Russia; Kirghizia and Tajikistan later expressed
willingness to join the Union.
The reaction of European officials continues to be diverse.
When in St. Petersburg to attend the G20 summit, European Council
President Herman Van Rompuy said that Armenia, Moldova, and, if
possible, Ukraine will hopefully sign the Association Agreement at the
Vilnius Summit in November 2013.
`This is a political agreement. The Agreement would allow Armenia to
go through comprehensive change both politically and economically.
Therefore, after getting the news about Armenia's plans of joining the
Custom's Union the EU expects to hear from Armenia what her further
plans are. We have not received official explanations from Armenia,
yet we don't think this is a zero sum game and the same refers to
Ukraine. Some benchmarks will be necessary to meet. There are some
outstanding issues but we hope to see results in Vilnius. We are still
engaged with these countries and still expect to sign the Association
Agreements,' he said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, said that the European
Parliament is not going to initialize either the Associated Agreement
or the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Armenia, as it's
not compatible with membership in the Customs Union.