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HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN'S SINISTER CONFESSION ON KARABAKH
"We've talked about the Association Agreement, DCFTA is a different
notion. We say that the Customs Union is not incompatible with the
Association Agreement, and I would like to assert this once again,"
Speaker Abrahamyan told reporters today commenting on the statement
of Commissioner Fule.
In answer to the question whether the Armenian side hopes to pre-sign
the Association Agreement, he said the Armenian authorities are for
signing it. "The other side will be in Armenia tomorrow, meet with
the authorities of the country, and a decision will be made in the
result of these discussions. We will continue our work with the EU,
continue the ongoing reforms," Abrahamyan said.
In answer to the question when the European partners were notified
about the intention of Armenia to join the Customs Union, Hovik
Abrahamyan said the foreign minister has already answered the
question. We are still speaking about cooperation with the EU.
The reporters wondered what induced Armenia to make a hasty decision
to join the Customs Union. The speaker said the decision was not
hasty, the president expressed his consent, his intention which
suppose processes that the governments and relevant bodies of the two
countries should be working on. "As soon as we have an agreed option,
it will be submitted to the National Assembly," he said.
He dismissed Fule's statement that Armenia underwent pressure. "I
did not experience any pressure, did not feel that our government
underwent any pressure. And nobody forced us to join the Customs
Union." He noted that Russia is not telling anything to Armenia,
we are a sovereign state, the authorities of our country determine
their foreign policy. Abrahamyan also said that there was no pressure
regarding Artsakh.
In answer to the question what membership to the Customs Union will
bring to NKR, Hovik Abrahamyan said, "The Republic of Armenia is
joining the Customs Union, what does this have to do with Karabakh?
Karabakh is an independent state."
In answer to the question whether BCPs will be installed between
Armenia and NKR, Hovik Abrahamyan said, "Let's first resolve our
issues, then we'll think about Karabakh."
At the same time, he said that he supports membership to the Customs
Union because "the state interest underlies it". And if Armenia does
not benefit, it may not sign the agreement, we are not a hostage,
the document is not in place yet. In answer to the question what
was given consent then if the document is not in place yet, he said
"membership". "Today our strategic partner, our economic ties are
all with Russia, our market is Russia."
Hovik Abrahamyan says he does not think that the EU officials are
surprised at the decision of Armenia. "We still want to pre-sign
the Association Agreement, if he says he does not want to, it is
his problem." In answer to reiterations of EU officials that the
Association Agreement is meaningless without DCFTA, Hovik Abrahamyan
said they are going to discuss this.
"They say there is a problem with DCFTA, there is a problem with the
Customs Union, there are controversies so we will discuss and maybe
work out the controversies, there may be controversies which are not
compatible. Life will show, time will show."
He also underlined that the signing of the Customs Union will not be
soon, it will take months, it may take place in 2014.
17:29 12/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/country/view/30875
"We've talked about the Association Agreement, DCFTA is a different
notion. We say that the Customs Union is not incompatible with the
Association Agreement, and I would like to assert this once again,"
Speaker Abrahamyan told reporters today commenting on the statement
of Commissioner Fule.
In answer to the question whether the Armenian side hopes to pre-sign
the Association Agreement, he said the Armenian authorities are for
signing it. "The other side will be in Armenia tomorrow, meet with
the authorities of the country, and a decision will be made in the
result of these discussions. We will continue our work with the EU,
continue the ongoing reforms," Abrahamyan said.
In answer to the question when the European partners were notified
about the intention of Armenia to join the Customs Union, Hovik
Abrahamyan said the foreign minister has already answered the
question. We are still speaking about cooperation with the EU.
The reporters wondered what induced Armenia to make a hasty decision
to join the Customs Union. The speaker said the decision was not
hasty, the president expressed his consent, his intention which
suppose processes that the governments and relevant bodies of the two
countries should be working on. "As soon as we have an agreed option,
it will be submitted to the National Assembly," he said.
He dismissed Fule's statement that Armenia underwent pressure. "I
did not experience any pressure, did not feel that our government
underwent any pressure. And nobody forced us to join the Customs
Union." He noted that Russia is not telling anything to Armenia,
we are a sovereign state, the authorities of our country determine
their foreign policy. Abrahamyan also said that there was no pressure
regarding Artsakh.
In answer to the question what membership to the Customs Union will
bring to NKR, Hovik Abrahamyan said, "The Republic of Armenia is
joining the Customs Union, what does this have to do with Karabakh?
Karabakh is an independent state."
In answer to the question whether BCPs will be installed between
Armenia and NKR, Hovik Abrahamyan said, "Let's first resolve our
issues, then we'll think about Karabakh."
At the same time, he said that he supports membership to the Customs
Union because "the state interest underlies it". And if Armenia does
not benefit, it may not sign the agreement, we are not a hostage,
the document is not in place yet. In answer to the question what
was given consent then if the document is not in place yet, he said
"membership". "Today our strategic partner, our economic ties are
all with Russia, our market is Russia."
Hovik Abrahamyan says he does not think that the EU officials are
surprised at the decision of Armenia. "We still want to pre-sign
the Association Agreement, if he says he does not want to, it is
his problem." In answer to reiterations of EU officials that the
Association Agreement is meaningless without DCFTA, Hovik Abrahamyan
said they are going to discuss this.
"They say there is a problem with DCFTA, there is a problem with the
Customs Union, there are controversies so we will discuss and maybe
work out the controversies, there may be controversies which are not
compatible. Life will show, time will show."
He also underlined that the signing of the Customs Union will not be
soon, it will take months, it may take place in 2014.
17:29 12/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/country/view/30875