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EU and Eurasian Economic Union: possible clash of interests in the
region - opinions
13:05 * 29.06.14
The signing of Association Agreements with the European Union (EU) by
Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine (the last-named signed only the economic
component) has created a new situation in the region - an echo of the
Ukrainian crisis against the background of tangled relations between
the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union.
In an interview with Tert.am, Head of the European Integration NGO
Karen Bekaryan said that four of the six European Partnership
member-states - Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Ukraine - have
certain problems involving different conflicts. Besides, other two
states, Belarus and Azerbaijan, signed Association Agreements with the
EU, as well as Armenia, which has not yet full-fledged relations with
the EU.
Political Secretary of the Heritage party Styopa Safaryan told Tert.am
about another "tangle." According to him, "it will be better seen
after Armenia joins the Eurasian Economic Union." That is, the
Armenia-Georgia border will turn into a border between the EU and the
Eurasian Economic Union.
Given the fact of Armenia becoming a border with the EU economic area,
as well as Russia's position on the European Partnership policy and on
the Association Agreements between the EU and Georgia, Moldova and
Ukraine, Mr Safaryan forecasts a number of pessimistic scenarios.
"First, we can expect Russians to use Armenia in its actions against
them. Secondly, if it happens, Europe will have to block Armenia even
worse by means of other states."
However, this is not a problem of Georgia alone.
"Even if Georgia wants, the EU had warned of the impossibility customs
free trade between the two economic areas because, if Armenia is
allowed to, it will imply its joining the EU free economic zone," Mr
Safaryan said.
Political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan does not think the new
situation in the region is the result of Association Agreements
between the EU and Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Rather, it is the
result of the Ukraine developments.
"By and large, the Eurasian Economic Union has waged a struggle for
Ukraine, with neither Europe nor Russia being the winner. They have
divided Ukraine and got such problems that huge economic resources are
required to resolve them."
"In any case, evidence thereof is Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's
recent visit to Georgia, where the two countries' leaders stated that
being parts of two economic unions would not prevent the development
of their trade relations. On the other hand, the Caucasus could be
turned into a crossroads of interests of the EU and Eurasian Economic
Union," Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan said as he quoted Armenia's president.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: Baghdasarian
region - opinions
13:05 * 29.06.14
The signing of Association Agreements with the European Union (EU) by
Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine (the last-named signed only the economic
component) has created a new situation in the region - an echo of the
Ukrainian crisis against the background of tangled relations between
the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union.
In an interview with Tert.am, Head of the European Integration NGO
Karen Bekaryan said that four of the six European Partnership
member-states - Georgia, Azerbaijan, Moldova and Ukraine - have
certain problems involving different conflicts. Besides, other two
states, Belarus and Azerbaijan, signed Association Agreements with the
EU, as well as Armenia, which has not yet full-fledged relations with
the EU.
Political Secretary of the Heritage party Styopa Safaryan told Tert.am
about another "tangle." According to him, "it will be better seen
after Armenia joins the Eurasian Economic Union." That is, the
Armenia-Georgia border will turn into a border between the EU and the
Eurasian Economic Union.
Given the fact of Armenia becoming a border with the EU economic area,
as well as Russia's position on the European Partnership policy and on
the Association Agreements between the EU and Georgia, Moldova and
Ukraine, Mr Safaryan forecasts a number of pessimistic scenarios.
"First, we can expect Russians to use Armenia in its actions against
them. Secondly, if it happens, Europe will have to block Armenia even
worse by means of other states."
However, this is not a problem of Georgia alone.
"Even if Georgia wants, the EU had warned of the impossibility customs
free trade between the two economic areas because, if Armenia is
allowed to, it will imply its joining the EU free economic zone," Mr
Safaryan said.
Political scientist Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan does not think the new
situation in the region is the result of Association Agreements
between the EU and Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Rather, it is the
result of the Ukraine developments.
"By and large, the Eurasian Economic Union has waged a struggle for
Ukraine, with neither Europe nor Russia being the winner. They have
divided Ukraine and got such problems that huge economic resources are
required to resolve them."
"In any case, evidence thereof is Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's
recent visit to Georgia, where the two countries' leaders stated that
being parts of two economic unions would not prevent the development
of their trade relations. On the other hand, the Caucasus could be
turned into a crossroads of interests of the EU and Eurasian Economic
Union," Mr Melik-Shahnazaryan said as he quoted Armenia's president.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: Baghdasarian