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Sargsyan reacts to Astana statements: Nazarbayev remarks, he says,
"can't harm us"
http://armenianow.com/news/54828/armenia_president_serzh_sargsyan_nazarbayev_astana _karabakh_customs_union
NEWS | 31.05.14 | 19:27
RELATED NEWS
Eurasian Style: Armenia urged to join Russia-led union within its
UN-recognized borders
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has put a brave face on the
statements made by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarvayev at an
Astana-hosted summit regarding Nagorno-Karabakh's status in the
emerging Eurasian Union, saying that albeit unpleasant, these remarks
still "can't harm us".
During the May 29 meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council
during which Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus signed a treaty on the
establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union beginning on January 1,
2015 (and Armenia is an aspiring member of this Union), Nazarbayev
cited a letter addressed by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev to all the
three leaders of the current Customs Union, saying that Armenia should
be admitted to the Union only within its United Nations-recognized
borders, i.e. without Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Armenian president did not reply to the statements of the summit
host immediately, which drew criticism at home. Members of the
Armenian opposition denounced the passivity of Armenia on the
interference of Azerbaijan into the process of Armenia's accession to
a trade bloc involving third countries and Yerevan's allowing its
allies to yield to Baku's pressure.
Attended a gathering of young members of his ruling Republican Party
of Armenia at the resort town of Tsaghkadzor on Saturday, Sargsyan
answered a question from a young Republican regarding the Astana
summit and Armenia's position on the matter.
"First of all, I must say that there are no obstacles to Armenia's
membership in the Customs Union. And when we speak here about two or
three issues, these two or three issues are of purely technical nature
and concern our trade relations," Sargsyan said, as quoted by his
press office.
"As for what was voiced by Nazarbayev, first, from the outset it is
wrong to talk about borders. What borders are we talking about? The
Karabakh problem is not being solved in the Customs Union," said the
Armenian president. And who said that we are joining the Customs Union
together with Karabakh? There has been no such thing and could not be,
because at least under our laws and in accordance with our ideas,
Karabakh today is not part of Armenia. And the fact that membership in
the Customs Union will contribute to the solution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem is unequivocal."
Interestingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that
consultations with the participation of senior representatives of the
Ministry and heads of Armenian diplomatic missions abroad will be held
in Yerevan on Monday. The participants of the consultations to be
chaired by President Sargsyan are also due to meet with Parliament
Speaker Galust Sahakyan and Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and travel
to Nagorno-Karabakh where their meeting with the second Armenian
republic's President Bako Sahakyan is planned. The agenda of the
consultations has not been revealed but Armenia's planned membership
in the Eurasian Union and related matters are likely to be the focal
point.
"can't harm us"
http://armenianow.com/news/54828/armenia_president_serzh_sargsyan_nazarbayev_astana _karabakh_customs_union
NEWS | 31.05.14 | 19:27
RELATED NEWS
Eurasian Style: Armenia urged to join Russia-led union within its
UN-recognized borders
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has put a brave face on the
statements made by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarvayev at an
Astana-hosted summit regarding Nagorno-Karabakh's status in the
emerging Eurasian Union, saying that albeit unpleasant, these remarks
still "can't harm us".
During the May 29 meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council
during which Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus signed a treaty on the
establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union beginning on January 1,
2015 (and Armenia is an aspiring member of this Union), Nazarbayev
cited a letter addressed by Azeri President Ilham Aliyev to all the
three leaders of the current Customs Union, saying that Armenia should
be admitted to the Union only within its United Nations-recognized
borders, i.e. without Nagorno-Karabakh.
The Armenian president did not reply to the statements of the summit
host immediately, which drew criticism at home. Members of the
Armenian opposition denounced the passivity of Armenia on the
interference of Azerbaijan into the process of Armenia's accession to
a trade bloc involving third countries and Yerevan's allowing its
allies to yield to Baku's pressure.
Attended a gathering of young members of his ruling Republican Party
of Armenia at the resort town of Tsaghkadzor on Saturday, Sargsyan
answered a question from a young Republican regarding the Astana
summit and Armenia's position on the matter.
"First of all, I must say that there are no obstacles to Armenia's
membership in the Customs Union. And when we speak here about two or
three issues, these two or three issues are of purely technical nature
and concern our trade relations," Sargsyan said, as quoted by his
press office.
"As for what was voiced by Nazarbayev, first, from the outset it is
wrong to talk about borders. What borders are we talking about? The
Karabakh problem is not being solved in the Customs Union," said the
Armenian president. And who said that we are joining the Customs Union
together with Karabakh? There has been no such thing and could not be,
because at least under our laws and in accordance with our ideas,
Karabakh today is not part of Armenia. And the fact that membership in
the Customs Union will contribute to the solution of the
Nagorno-Karabakh problem is unequivocal."
Interestingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that
consultations with the participation of senior representatives of the
Ministry and heads of Armenian diplomatic missions abroad will be held
in Yerevan on Monday. The participants of the consultations to be
chaired by President Sargsyan are also due to meet with Parliament
Speaker Galust Sahakyan and Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan and travel
to Nagorno-Karabakh where their meeting with the second Armenian
republic's President Bako Sahakyan is planned. The agenda of the
consultations has not been revealed but Armenia's planned membership
in the Eurasian Union and related matters are likely to be the focal
point.