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SARKISIAN DEFENDS CUSTOMS UNION DECISION
http://asbarez.com/119014/sarkisian-defends-customs-union-decision/
Thursday, January 30th, 2014
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian (right) and Czech President Milos
Zeman in Prague, Czech Republic. Jan. 30, 2014.
Czech President Milos Zeman Recognizes Armenian Genocide
PRAGUE--President Serzh Sarkisian, during an official visit to Prague
Thursday, defended Armenia's efforts to quickly expedite Armenia's
membership into the Customs Union, but pledges his country's commitment
to cooperation with Europe.
Speaking at a press conference with his Czech counterpart Milos
Zeman, Sarkisian said: "If we decided to join the Customs Union,
then we must do that as quickly as possible. Why should we slow down?"
"If our decision is based on our national interests," Sarkisian said
"then it must be put into practice as soon as possible."
Sarkisian dismissed a suggestion from an RFE/RL reporter that Armenia
should not have joined the Customs Union, since Russia continues to
supply arms to Azerbaijan.
"I want to remind you that the Customs Union is a primarily economic,
rather than military, structure," he said. "And it is wrong to call
into question Russian-Armenian strategic cooperation."
"True, the Russian side is cooperating with Azerbaijan as well, but
that doesn't mean that we have the right and capacity to block that
cooperation," he added.
Sarkisian also added that the Russian-Armenian security pact has
contributed to Armenia's ability to ward off Azeri incursions and
attacks at the border.
The Armenian leader stressed that cooperation with Europe remained
a priority for Armenian foreign policy.
"It was here five years ago that Armenia assumed the commitment
to develop deeper cooperation with the European Union, which we
reiterated at the Vilnius Summit in November," said Sarkisian at the
press conference.
"We are resolute to continue to develop and expand our relations with
the European Union and anticipate comprehensive support from friendly
countries, including the Czech Republic," said Sarkisian.
He also hailed the Czech Republic's constructive position on the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying that "prospects
for a conflict resolution do not seem realistic, unless Azerbaijan
stops its bellicose propaganda, arms race and the vicious policy of
provocations at the 'Line of Contact.'"
"It's time for Azerbaijan to adopt a constructive policy towards the
resolution of the issue exceptionally in a peaceful way. Here we expect
unbiased support from the international community," said Sarkisian.
Czech President Recognizes Genocide In his remarks during the press
conference, Zelman referred to the events of 1915 as genocide,
acknowledging the upcoming centennial in 2015.
"Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In
1915 1.5 million Armenians were killed," said Zelman.
In response to a question from a Hailour reporter about Turkey's
membership in the European Union, Sarkisian said that the decision to
admit Turkey in the Union is a decision that European Union members
can make, adding however, that Armenia would like to have a democratic
state as its neighbor.
"For Armenia, Turkey's membership in the European Union, first and
foremost means the opening of the border," said Sarkisian, whose
administration signed the dangerous Turkey-Armenia protocols, which
Turkey is not ratifying by pre-conditioning a pro-Azeri resolution
to the Karabakh conflict.
"Of course, it would be much easier for us to deal with a democratic
state. Becoming a member of the European Union means exactly that,"
added Sarkisian.
http://asbarez.com/119014/sarkisian-defends-customs-union-decision/
Thursday, January 30th, 2014
Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian (right) and Czech President Milos
Zeman in Prague, Czech Republic. Jan. 30, 2014.
Czech President Milos Zeman Recognizes Armenian Genocide
PRAGUE--President Serzh Sarkisian, during an official visit to Prague
Thursday, defended Armenia's efforts to quickly expedite Armenia's
membership into the Customs Union, but pledges his country's commitment
to cooperation with Europe.
Speaking at a press conference with his Czech counterpart Milos
Zeman, Sarkisian said: "If we decided to join the Customs Union,
then we must do that as quickly as possible. Why should we slow down?"
"If our decision is based on our national interests," Sarkisian said
"then it must be put into practice as soon as possible."
Sarkisian dismissed a suggestion from an RFE/RL reporter that Armenia
should not have joined the Customs Union, since Russia continues to
supply arms to Azerbaijan.
"I want to remind you that the Customs Union is a primarily economic,
rather than military, structure," he said. "And it is wrong to call
into question Russian-Armenian strategic cooperation."
"True, the Russian side is cooperating with Azerbaijan as well, but
that doesn't mean that we have the right and capacity to block that
cooperation," he added.
Sarkisian also added that the Russian-Armenian security pact has
contributed to Armenia's ability to ward off Azeri incursions and
attacks at the border.
The Armenian leader stressed that cooperation with Europe remained
a priority for Armenian foreign policy.
"It was here five years ago that Armenia assumed the commitment
to develop deeper cooperation with the European Union, which we
reiterated at the Vilnius Summit in November," said Sarkisian at the
press conference.
"We are resolute to continue to develop and expand our relations with
the European Union and anticipate comprehensive support from friendly
countries, including the Czech Republic," said Sarkisian.
He also hailed the Czech Republic's constructive position on the
resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, saying that "prospects
for a conflict resolution do not seem realistic, unless Azerbaijan
stops its bellicose propaganda, arms race and the vicious policy of
provocations at the 'Line of Contact.'"
"It's time for Azerbaijan to adopt a constructive policy towards the
resolution of the issue exceptionally in a peaceful way. Here we expect
unbiased support from the international community," said Sarkisian.
Czech President Recognizes Genocide In his remarks during the press
conference, Zelman referred to the events of 1915 as genocide,
acknowledging the upcoming centennial in 2015.
"Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. In
1915 1.5 million Armenians were killed," said Zelman.
In response to a question from a Hailour reporter about Turkey's
membership in the European Union, Sarkisian said that the decision to
admit Turkey in the Union is a decision that European Union members
can make, adding however, that Armenia would like to have a democratic
state as its neighbor.
"For Armenia, Turkey's membership in the European Union, first and
foremost means the opening of the border," said Sarkisian, whose
administration signed the dangerous Turkey-Armenia protocols, which
Turkey is not ratifying by pre-conditioning a pro-Azeri resolution
to the Karabakh conflict.
"Of course, it would be much easier for us to deal with a democratic
state. Becoming a member of the European Union means exactly that,"
added Sarkisian.