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EU's dialogue with Armenia on visa-free travel depends on Armenia's
further steps - Hovhannes Igityan
11:49 * 24.07.14
Former head of Armenia's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe (PACE) Hovhannes Igityan believes that the
European Union (EU) will wait for Armenia's further steps in
connection with the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU), to decide on
whether to grant Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian's request for visa-free
travel to the EU for Armenia's citizens.
"There is uncertainty surrounding Armenia's accession to the EaEU. If
Armenia decides in favor of the EaEU, while the West is imposing not
only economic, but also visa restrictions, I do not think the EU will
grant any privileges to Armenia. In any case, I think the EU will wait
for Armenia's further steps."
According to Mr Igityan, the EU has Associations Agreement with many
countries, including dictatorships.
"Association Agreements regulate bilateral relations. What Armenia was
offered nine months ago was the highest level for Armenia to assume
human rights commitments and get free trade advantages. The EU will
find a formula for communicating with Armenia after it has seen what
particular boundaries Armenia intends to mark for itself and what
concessions on, for example, independent decisions on joining the EaEU
it is ready for."
As regard French President François Hollande's proposal for an
Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting in Paris, Mer Igityan said:
"I may have failed to notice - or it may be a great secret - but I
have not yet seen the agenda or the objective of such a meeting. It
may a merely formal meeting - they have not had such meetings for a
long period. As to the OSCE Minsk Group, I have not yet seen any
progress for the past two months. I think the Ukraine-Russia conflict
may account for that. I think the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
representing the two sides will find it most difficult to reach a
diplomatic agreement on a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process."
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: A. Papazian
further steps - Hovhannes Igityan
11:49 * 24.07.14
Former head of Armenia's delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of
the Council of Europe (PACE) Hovhannes Igityan believes that the
European Union (EU) will wait for Armenia's further steps in
connection with the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU), to decide on
whether to grant Armenian FM Edward Nalbandian's request for visa-free
travel to the EU for Armenia's citizens.
"There is uncertainty surrounding Armenia's accession to the EaEU. If
Armenia decides in favor of the EaEU, while the West is imposing not
only economic, but also visa restrictions, I do not think the EU will
grant any privileges to Armenia. In any case, I think the EU will wait
for Armenia's further steps."
According to Mr Igityan, the EU has Associations Agreement with many
countries, including dictatorships.
"Association Agreements regulate bilateral relations. What Armenia was
offered nine months ago was the highest level for Armenia to assume
human rights commitments and get free trade advantages. The EU will
find a formula for communicating with Armenia after it has seen what
particular boundaries Armenia intends to mark for itself and what
concessions on, for example, independent decisions on joining the EaEU
it is ready for."
As regard French President François Hollande's proposal for an
Armenian-Azerbaijani presidential meeting in Paris, Mer Igityan said:
"I may have failed to notice - or it may be a great secret - but I
have not yet seen the agenda or the objective of such a meeting. It
may a merely formal meeting - they have not had such meetings for a
long period. As to the OSCE Minsk Group, I have not yet seen any
progress for the past two months. I think the Ukraine-Russia conflict
may account for that. I think the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs
representing the two sides will find it most difficult to reach a
diplomatic agreement on a settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process."
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: A. Papazian