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BRUSSELS THREATENS YEREVAN
WPS Agency, Russia
September 25, 2013 Wednesday
Armenia is promised trouble and problems on account of its stated
intention to join the Customs Union
by Tigran Oganesjan Source: Izvestia (Moscow issue), No 179, September
25, 2013, p. 7
THE EUROPEAN UNION IS DISPLEASED WITH ARMENIA'S PLANS TO JOIN THE
CUSTOMS UNION; Armenia's immediate agenda requires cooperation with
Russia, hence the decision to join the Customs Union.
Results of the opinion poll the Eurasian Bank of Development organized
in Armenia show that approximately 67% Armenians support the idea of
membership in the Customs Union. All in all, about 14,000 respondents
were approached in Armenia itself, some other CIS countries, and
Georgia.
The European Union in its turn is convinced that Armenia's membership
in the Customs Union will cost both Yerevan and Baku. Elmar Brok of
the European Parliament's Committee for International Contacts said,
"President of Armenia Serj Sargsjan was plainly told in Armenia that
either Armenia joined the Customs Union or it could forget about
Russia's help in resolution of the crisis with Azerbaijan."
According to Brok, Sargsjan was cornered and could only agree to
join the Customs Union. "That's a grave error on Moscow's part. It
is trying to restore the Soviet Union and Armenia is given no choice
in the matter."
In a word, Armenia was advised that membership in the Customs Union
would mean serious problems in its relations with the EU.
One of EU functionaries pointed out that Armenia's membership in the
Customs Union was out of the question if it aspired for associated
membership in the European Union.
In any event, opinions on the future membership in the Customs Union
in Armenia itself differ.
"We have a vitally important problem to solve... the problem of
Nagorno-Karabakh," said Naira Zograbjan, Chair of the Permanent
Commission for European Integration. "This is why Yerevan needs a
well-balanced policy which makes it plain to everyone that Russia is
our strategic partner."
Zograbjan herself stands for European integration but even she believes
that EU functionaries "have gone too far" and that diplomatic etiquette
does not allow for threats.
Tevan Pogosjan of the parliament's Commission for Defense, Security,
and Internal Affairs fails to see why Armenia needs the Customs Union
for purposes of national defense.
"The way I see it, Yerevan ought to keep moving in the direction
of Europe... and leave matters of national safety and security to
the regular army, Karabakh defense army, Russian units posted here,
and the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization," said Pogosjan.
Sargsjan's decision to join the Customs Union meanwhile does not
mean that Yerevan abandoned all hopes for rapprochement with the
European Union.
"Armenia is ready to sign the political part of the treaty on
associated membership in the European Union... but the necessary
changes in the text of the document ought to be made by members
of the Eastern Partnership initiative," said Edmon Marukjan of the
Armenian parliament's Commission for Foreign Contacts. "It will be
nice to retain the level of relations with the EU that we have already
established... I mean easy availability of visas, opportunities to
study in Europe, and so on."
As far as Marukjan is concerned, European integration will benefit
Armenia strategically whereas realization of its more immediate plans
requires active cooperation and interaction with Russia.
WPS'2013
[Translated from Russian]
WPS Agency, Russia
September 25, 2013 Wednesday
Armenia is promised trouble and problems on account of its stated
intention to join the Customs Union
by Tigran Oganesjan Source: Izvestia (Moscow issue), No 179, September
25, 2013, p. 7
THE EUROPEAN UNION IS DISPLEASED WITH ARMENIA'S PLANS TO JOIN THE
CUSTOMS UNION; Armenia's immediate agenda requires cooperation with
Russia, hence the decision to join the Customs Union.
Results of the opinion poll the Eurasian Bank of Development organized
in Armenia show that approximately 67% Armenians support the idea of
membership in the Customs Union. All in all, about 14,000 respondents
were approached in Armenia itself, some other CIS countries, and
Georgia.
The European Union in its turn is convinced that Armenia's membership
in the Customs Union will cost both Yerevan and Baku. Elmar Brok of
the European Parliament's Committee for International Contacts said,
"President of Armenia Serj Sargsjan was plainly told in Armenia that
either Armenia joined the Customs Union or it could forget about
Russia's help in resolution of the crisis with Azerbaijan."
According to Brok, Sargsjan was cornered and could only agree to
join the Customs Union. "That's a grave error on Moscow's part. It
is trying to restore the Soviet Union and Armenia is given no choice
in the matter."
In a word, Armenia was advised that membership in the Customs Union
would mean serious problems in its relations with the EU.
One of EU functionaries pointed out that Armenia's membership in the
Customs Union was out of the question if it aspired for associated
membership in the European Union.
In any event, opinions on the future membership in the Customs Union
in Armenia itself differ.
"We have a vitally important problem to solve... the problem of
Nagorno-Karabakh," said Naira Zograbjan, Chair of the Permanent
Commission for European Integration. "This is why Yerevan needs a
well-balanced policy which makes it plain to everyone that Russia is
our strategic partner."
Zograbjan herself stands for European integration but even she believes
that EU functionaries "have gone too far" and that diplomatic etiquette
does not allow for threats.
Tevan Pogosjan of the parliament's Commission for Defense, Security,
and Internal Affairs fails to see why Armenia needs the Customs Union
for purposes of national defense.
"The way I see it, Yerevan ought to keep moving in the direction
of Europe... and leave matters of national safety and security to
the regular army, Karabakh defense army, Russian units posted here,
and the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization," said Pogosjan.
Sargsjan's decision to join the Customs Union meanwhile does not
mean that Yerevan abandoned all hopes for rapprochement with the
European Union.
"Armenia is ready to sign the political part of the treaty on
associated membership in the European Union... but the necessary
changes in the text of the document ought to be made by members
of the Eastern Partnership initiative," said Edmon Marukjan of the
Armenian parliament's Commission for Foreign Contacts. "It will be
nice to retain the level of relations with the EU that we have already
established... I mean easy availability of visas, opportunities to
study in Europe, and so on."
As far as Marukjan is concerned, European integration will benefit
Armenia strategically whereas realization of its more immediate plans
requires active cooperation and interaction with Russia.
WPS'2013
[Translated from Russian]