LINKEVICIUS AND NALBANDIAN DISCUSSED ARMENIA'S INTENTION TO JOIN THE CUSTOMS UNION
The Baltic Course
Sept 11 2013
Petras Vaida, BC, Vilnius, 11.09.2013.Print version
On 7 September, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas
Linkevicius met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
Edward Nalbandian, who is paying a visit to Vilnius, and discussed
the announcement of 3 September that Armenia had decided to seek the
Customs Union membership, informed BC Lithuania's MFA.
The Armenian Foreign Minister assured L.LinkeviÄ~Mius that Armenia
wished to continue to participate actively in the Eastern Partnership
programme.
The Lithuanian Foreign Minister stressed that there was a need to
continue consultations and to assess the situation; however, the
Minister saw an incompatibility between Armenia's membership of the
Customs Union and participation in a deep and comprehensive free
trade area with the EU.
"We respect Armenia's will, but we must emphasise that the decision to
join the Customs Union diminishes Armenia's ambitions of integration
in and cooperation with the EU," L.LinkeviÄ~Mius said.
The Minister L.LinkeviÄ~Mius noted that in this context it was
important to look towards the future and not to waste what Armenia
had achieved during the 5 years of its participation in the Eastern
Partnership programme, as well as during the negotiations on the
Association Agreement.
According to L.LinkeviÄ~Miaus, the visit of the Armenian Foreign
Minister shows that the country wishes to cooperate with the EU and
to participate in the Eastern Partnership programme.
http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/baltic_states_cis/?doc=80358
The Baltic Course
Sept 11 2013
Petras Vaida, BC, Vilnius, 11.09.2013.Print version
On 7 September, the Lithuanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Linas
Linkevicius met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia
Edward Nalbandian, who is paying a visit to Vilnius, and discussed
the announcement of 3 September that Armenia had decided to seek the
Customs Union membership, informed BC Lithuania's MFA.
The Armenian Foreign Minister assured L.LinkeviÄ~Mius that Armenia
wished to continue to participate actively in the Eastern Partnership
programme.
The Lithuanian Foreign Minister stressed that there was a need to
continue consultations and to assess the situation; however, the
Minister saw an incompatibility between Armenia's membership of the
Customs Union and participation in a deep and comprehensive free
trade area with the EU.
"We respect Armenia's will, but we must emphasise that the decision to
join the Customs Union diminishes Armenia's ambitions of integration
in and cooperation with the EU," L.LinkeviÄ~Mius said.
The Minister L.LinkeviÄ~Mius noted that in this context it was
important to look towards the future and not to waste what Armenia
had achieved during the 5 years of its participation in the Eastern
Partnership programme, as well as during the negotiations on the
Association Agreement.
According to L.LinkeviÄ~Miaus, the visit of the Armenian Foreign
Minister shows that the country wishes to cooperate with the EU and
to participate in the Eastern Partnership programme.
http://www.baltic-course.com/eng/baltic_states_cis/?doc=80358