Tweet
ARMENIA DIVIDED BY CHOICE OF RUSSIA OVER EUROPE
China Post
Sept 18 2013
By Mariam Harutyunyan ,AFP
YEREVAN -- A decision by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian to sign up
to a Russian-led Customs Union has slammed the brakes on closer ties
with Europe and prompted soul-searching about the future direction
of the former Soviet state.
Sarkisian's surprise announcement earlier this month that Armenia
will sign up to the project championed by Russian President Vladimir
Putin stunned many Armenians, who see the southern Caucasus state as
part of Europe.
After lengthy negotiations, Armenia - along other ex-Soviet states
including Georgia and Moldova - had been set to pencil a free trade
deal and take the first step towards future EU integration at a
conference in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in November.
The decision to sign up to the customs union with Russia has been
met with street protests, so far small-scale, and widespread debate.
"We came here to say that we will not let this happen," said protestor
Lusine Hovsepyan, 34, a computer programmer, at a recent demonstration
in Yerevan.
"If it's a choice between the EU and this customs union, then we
choose the more developed, more democratic Europe."
But security concerns over the disputed territory of Nagorny Karabakh
and pressure from long-time ally Moscow appear to have won out against
hopes of closer ties to Europe.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/afp/2013/09/18/389291/Armenia-divided.htm
China Post
Sept 18 2013
By Mariam Harutyunyan ,AFP
YEREVAN -- A decision by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian to sign up
to a Russian-led Customs Union has slammed the brakes on closer ties
with Europe and prompted soul-searching about the future direction
of the former Soviet state.
Sarkisian's surprise announcement earlier this month that Armenia
will sign up to the project championed by Russian President Vladimir
Putin stunned many Armenians, who see the southern Caucasus state as
part of Europe.
After lengthy negotiations, Armenia - along other ex-Soviet states
including Georgia and Moldova - had been set to pencil a free trade
deal and take the first step towards future EU integration at a
conference in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius in November.
The decision to sign up to the customs union with Russia has been
met with street protests, so far small-scale, and widespread debate.
"We came here to say that we will not let this happen," said protestor
Lusine Hovsepyan, 34, a computer programmer, at a recent demonstration
in Yerevan.
"If it's a choice between the EU and this customs union, then we
choose the more developed, more democratic Europe."
But security concerns over the disputed territory of Nagorny Karabakh
and pressure from long-time ally Moscow appear to have won out against
hopes of closer ties to Europe.
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/afp/2013/09/18/389291/Armenia-divided.htm