MEPS URGE RUSSIA TO RESPECT EASTERN PARTNERSHIP COUNTRIES' RIGHT TO CHOOSE TIES WITH EU
13:44 13.09.2013
European Parliament, Russia
Russia must respect the right of the EU's eastern neighbours to choose
whether to enter into association agreements with the EU, say MEPs
in a resolution passed on Thursday. For example, Russia must refrain
from exerting pressure, such as its recent trade sanctions against
Ukraine and Moldova and threats to Armenia, to dissuade them from
signing or initialling deals with the EU at this November's Eastern
Partnership summit in Vilnius, adds the text.
MEPs deplore the unacceptable pressure that Russia has been putting
on EU Eastern Partnership countries as the Vilnius Eastern Partnership
Summit approaches. They call on it to respect the independent states'
sovereignty and not to intervene in their internal affairs, as required
by international law. Eastern Partnership countries have a right to
"build relations with partners of their choice", they add.
The resolution firmly rejects the idea that the EU's and Russia's
relations with Eastern Partnership countries can be treated as a
"zero-sum game". Instead of using the region's frozen conflicts in
its geopolitical and economic interests, Russia should cooperate
and contribute constructively to the region's economic and political
stability, adds the text.
MEPs also encourage the Eastern partnership countries to pursue
preparations for the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit and "not
succumb to pressure" from Russia. They reaffirm their strongest support
for initialling or signing the agreements at the Vilnius Summit with
those Eastern Partnership countries "which are ready and willing to
do so".
The EU must take responsibility for defending the Eastern Partnership
countries that have been exposed to Russia's "open, alarming and
escalating" pressures, say MEPs. They ask the European Commission and
the Council to come forward with "concrete and effective measures"
to support the partner countries in their European aspirations and
choices.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/09/13/meps-urge-russia-to-respect-eastern-partnership-countries-right-to-choose-ties-with-eu/
From: A. Papazian
13:44 13.09.2013
European Parliament, Russia
Russia must respect the right of the EU's eastern neighbours to choose
whether to enter into association agreements with the EU, say MEPs
in a resolution passed on Thursday. For example, Russia must refrain
from exerting pressure, such as its recent trade sanctions against
Ukraine and Moldova and threats to Armenia, to dissuade them from
signing or initialling deals with the EU at this November's Eastern
Partnership summit in Vilnius, adds the text.
MEPs deplore the unacceptable pressure that Russia has been putting
on EU Eastern Partnership countries as the Vilnius Eastern Partnership
Summit approaches. They call on it to respect the independent states'
sovereignty and not to intervene in their internal affairs, as required
by international law. Eastern Partnership countries have a right to
"build relations with partners of their choice", they add.
The resolution firmly rejects the idea that the EU's and Russia's
relations with Eastern Partnership countries can be treated as a
"zero-sum game". Instead of using the region's frozen conflicts in
its geopolitical and economic interests, Russia should cooperate
and contribute constructively to the region's economic and political
stability, adds the text.
MEPs also encourage the Eastern partnership countries to pursue
preparations for the Vilnius Eastern Partnership Summit and "not
succumb to pressure" from Russia. They reaffirm their strongest support
for initialling or signing the agreements at the Vilnius Summit with
those Eastern Partnership countries "which are ready and willing to
do so".
The EU must take responsibility for defending the Eastern Partnership
countries that have been exposed to Russia's "open, alarming and
escalating" pressures, say MEPs. They ask the European Commission and
the Council to come forward with "concrete and effective measures"
to support the partner countries in their European aspirations and
choices.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2013/09/13/meps-urge-russia-to-respect-eastern-partnership-countries-right-to-choose-ties-with-eu/
From: A. Papazian