HOLLANDE TURNED SARGSYAN DOWN
Francois Hollande's congratulatory message stood out among other
congratulatory messages because besides congratulating Hollande also
invited him to France. Hollande's message states that he would be
happy to discuss regional and bilateral issues with Sargsyan in Paris.
This statement is interesting because the French president has
actually turned down Serzh Sargsyan's invitation to visit Armenia and
is waiting for Serzh Sargsyan in Paris. The point is that after Serzh
Sargsyan's big visit to France last fall Armenia's foreign minister
Edward Nalbandyan said in a joint press conference with his Latvian
counterpart Armenia is waiting for President Hollande's state visit
to Armenia, which will be an important haven for the development of
our relations.
If the foreign minister says "next year" which is 2013, it means
there was an invitation from Armenia, which Hollande did not refuse
and even promised to come since Nalbandyan was so confident.
Now it becomes known that Hollande will not come to Armenia but is
waiting for Serzh Sargsyan in Paris. Perhaps this is the attitude
of official Paris to the European Union and the U-turn towards the
Customs Union. At first sight, it seems that Hollande is expressing a
friendship to Serzh Sargsyan when he invites him to France. In reality,
however, the president of France uses the language of diplomacy
to cancel Yerevan's expectations, and besides he is inviting Serzh
Sargsyan to give explanations.
The attitude of France is understood because Paris is one of the
"sponsors" of Yerevan's policy, a friendly state that facilitates
promotion of Armenia's interests in Europe, supports openly, sometimes
not so. Serzh Sargsyan's decision to join the Customs Union hits
France and leaves this country in an awkward situation.
At the same time, it is important to not just reprimand or express
dissatisfaction but discuss further steps of Armenia, primarily the
Armenian-Turkish issue and Artsakh, as well as Iran and Syria. Paris
will try to feel the stock of predictability or probability of Armenia,
trying to prevent possible capitulation of Yerevan, which hits the
interests of both Armenia and the North Atlantic community.
However, it is interesting to know whether the new government of
France has figured out its Caucasian policy. At least, there has been
uncertainty on this part since Hollande's election. The new president
of France focuses more on French and Union issues. He may have planned
some messages to Armenia regarding the policy on the Caucasian policy
within the framework of a state visit but Hollande's messages would
not sound so serious from Customs Armenia, therefore he cancelled
such a protocol visit, appointing a meeting with Serzh Sargsyan on
Champs Elisees instead.
Hakob Badalyan 11:28 24/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30950
From: Baghdasarian
Francois Hollande's congratulatory message stood out among other
congratulatory messages because besides congratulating Hollande also
invited him to France. Hollande's message states that he would be
happy to discuss regional and bilateral issues with Sargsyan in Paris.
This statement is interesting because the French president has
actually turned down Serzh Sargsyan's invitation to visit Armenia and
is waiting for Serzh Sargsyan in Paris. The point is that after Serzh
Sargsyan's big visit to France last fall Armenia's foreign minister
Edward Nalbandyan said in a joint press conference with his Latvian
counterpart Armenia is waiting for President Hollande's state visit
to Armenia, which will be an important haven for the development of
our relations.
If the foreign minister says "next year" which is 2013, it means
there was an invitation from Armenia, which Hollande did not refuse
and even promised to come since Nalbandyan was so confident.
Now it becomes known that Hollande will not come to Armenia but is
waiting for Serzh Sargsyan in Paris. Perhaps this is the attitude
of official Paris to the European Union and the U-turn towards the
Customs Union. At first sight, it seems that Hollande is expressing a
friendship to Serzh Sargsyan when he invites him to France. In reality,
however, the president of France uses the language of diplomacy
to cancel Yerevan's expectations, and besides he is inviting Serzh
Sargsyan to give explanations.
The attitude of France is understood because Paris is one of the
"sponsors" of Yerevan's policy, a friendly state that facilitates
promotion of Armenia's interests in Europe, supports openly, sometimes
not so. Serzh Sargsyan's decision to join the Customs Union hits
France and leaves this country in an awkward situation.
At the same time, it is important to not just reprimand or express
dissatisfaction but discuss further steps of Armenia, primarily the
Armenian-Turkish issue and Artsakh, as well as Iran and Syria. Paris
will try to feel the stock of predictability or probability of Armenia,
trying to prevent possible capitulation of Yerevan, which hits the
interests of both Armenia and the North Atlantic community.
However, it is interesting to know whether the new government of
France has figured out its Caucasian policy. At least, there has been
uncertainty on this part since Hollande's election. The new president
of France focuses more on French and Union issues. He may have planned
some messages to Armenia regarding the policy on the Caucasian policy
within the framework of a state visit but Hollande's messages would
not sound so serious from Customs Armenia, therefore he cancelled
such a protocol visit, appointing a meeting with Serzh Sargsyan on
Champs Elisees instead.
Hakob Badalyan 11:28 24/09/2013 Story from Lragir.am News:
http://www.lragir.am/index/eng/0/comments/view/30950
From: Baghdasarian