Tweet
EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT VICE-PRESIDENT: ARMENIA IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF EUROPE
15:55 23/12/2014 >> INTERVIEWS
In the interview with Nvard Chalikyan from Panorama.am Vice-President
of European Parliament Mr. Ryszard Czarnecki, who was in Armenia on
an official visit, spoke about the prospects of cooperation between
Armenia and the EU.
Mr. Czernecki, who is also a historian and who has visited Armenia
for many times, stressed that Armenia is an integral part of Europe
both historically and culturally.
He said that the EU is therefore interested in having closer relations
with Armenia, despite Armenia's decision to join the Eurasian Union
(which the EU understands given Armenia's geopolitical situation).
Commenting on statements made by President of France Francois Holland
and by Foreign Minister of Latvia, who have recently spoken about
the need for a new type of Association Agreement with Armenia, the EP
Vice-President said that "the EU is open for every form of cooperation
with Armenia."
He also noted that while for some EU countries it is preferable to have
closer relations with Africa, Maghreb and other regions, for Poland
(the country he represents) it is important to have closer ties with
South Caucasus countries as well as with Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova.
As for the future of the EU, the EP Vice-President said that EU
enlargement is envisioned - it will be not a fast, but a step-by-step
process.
Speaking about the agenda of the upcoming summit of Euronest, which
is going to take place in Yerevan (Armenia) in March, Mr. Czarnecki
said that the future of Euronest will be discussed. He regretted that
Azerbaijan may be boycotting the session as it wouldn't be beneficial
for Azerbaijan to miss a meeting in which important matters for the
region are going to be discussed.
Mr. Czarnecki also spoke positively about the recent strengthening of
ties between Armenia and Iran and said it is in the national interests
of Armenia to maintain the balance of power in the external relations
of the country and to cooperate not only with Russia, but also with
the EU, Iran and other countries.
Asked about whether the issue of Azerbaijan's "caviar diplomacy"
is addressed in the EP after the incident with the EP election
observation mission in Azerbaijan, Mr. Czarnecki said that the
inconsistency between the reports reaffirmed the need to have one
common policy within the European Parliament.
As for the Nagorno Karabakh issue, Mr. Czarnecki reiterated the
position of the European Parliament in that it completely supports
the efforts of the Minsk Group and is waiting for the results of
their work.
Asked about the attitude of the EU to the fact that Azerbaijan
enhances its military budget (not concealing its intentions to start
a war against NKR and Armenia) by the money it receives from energy
projects with European countries, Mr. Czarnecki said that the EU is
not responsible for energy policies of its members, as cooperation
in this sector remains in the domain of sovereign states.
Mr. Czarnecki will be visiting Armenia in March 2015 for the Euronest
summit.
See the full video interview with Mr. Czarnecki here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHCR_3U8N0Y&feature=youtu.be
By Nvard Chalikyan
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/12/23/czarnecki/
15:55 23/12/2014 >> INTERVIEWS
In the interview with Nvard Chalikyan from Panorama.am Vice-President
of European Parliament Mr. Ryszard Czarnecki, who was in Armenia on
an official visit, spoke about the prospects of cooperation between
Armenia and the EU.
Mr. Czernecki, who is also a historian and who has visited Armenia
for many times, stressed that Armenia is an integral part of Europe
both historically and culturally.
He said that the EU is therefore interested in having closer relations
with Armenia, despite Armenia's decision to join the Eurasian Union
(which the EU understands given Armenia's geopolitical situation).
Commenting on statements made by President of France Francois Holland
and by Foreign Minister of Latvia, who have recently spoken about
the need for a new type of Association Agreement with Armenia, the EP
Vice-President said that "the EU is open for every form of cooperation
with Armenia."
He also noted that while for some EU countries it is preferable to have
closer relations with Africa, Maghreb and other regions, for Poland
(the country he represents) it is important to have closer ties with
South Caucasus countries as well as with Belarus, Ukraine and Moldova.
As for the future of the EU, the EP Vice-President said that EU
enlargement is envisioned - it will be not a fast, but a step-by-step
process.
Speaking about the agenda of the upcoming summit of Euronest, which
is going to take place in Yerevan (Armenia) in March, Mr. Czarnecki
said that the future of Euronest will be discussed. He regretted that
Azerbaijan may be boycotting the session as it wouldn't be beneficial
for Azerbaijan to miss a meeting in which important matters for the
region are going to be discussed.
Mr. Czarnecki also spoke positively about the recent strengthening of
ties between Armenia and Iran and said it is in the national interests
of Armenia to maintain the balance of power in the external relations
of the country and to cooperate not only with Russia, but also with
the EU, Iran and other countries.
Asked about whether the issue of Azerbaijan's "caviar diplomacy"
is addressed in the EP after the incident with the EP election
observation mission in Azerbaijan, Mr. Czarnecki said that the
inconsistency between the reports reaffirmed the need to have one
common policy within the European Parliament.
As for the Nagorno Karabakh issue, Mr. Czarnecki reiterated the
position of the European Parliament in that it completely supports
the efforts of the Minsk Group and is waiting for the results of
their work.
Asked about the attitude of the EU to the fact that Azerbaijan
enhances its military budget (not concealing its intentions to start
a war against NKR and Armenia) by the money it receives from energy
projects with European countries, Mr. Czarnecki said that the EU is
not responsible for energy policies of its members, as cooperation
in this sector remains in the domain of sovereign states.
Mr. Czarnecki will be visiting Armenia in March 2015 for the Euronest
summit.
See the full video interview with Mr. Czarnecki here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHCR_3U8N0Y&feature=youtu.be
By Nvard Chalikyan
http://www.panorama.am/en/politics/2014/12/23/czarnecki/