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KARABAKH ISSUE NOT AN OBSTACLE TO ARMENIAN-GERMAN COOPERATION: AMBASSADOR
16:56, 14 Oct 2014
Liana Yeghiazaryan
Public Radio of Armenia
Although the European Union (EEU) is aware of the motives behind
Armenia's decision to shift to the Eurasian Economic Union, it's still
necessary to wait to see how EEU will work and whether it will come
up to the expectations, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of Germany to Armenia Reiner Morell said in an interview with Public
Radio of Armenia.
To what extent will Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic
Union affect the cooperation with the EU in general and Germany, in
particular? The Ambassador considers Armenia can no longer be as free
in its "European decisions" as before, but says we should wait to see.
"It's a difficult issue. The question refers to factors, which cannot
be assessed beforehand. The EU is aware that Armenia shifted towards
the Eurasian Economic Union out of geopolitical considerations,
also because of close historic ties with the region. We still have
to wait to see how the Union will work. Armenia is now shaping a
new legal framework. This is a transit period, where the old and
new agreements are in force. There are definitely strongly positive
aspects for Armenia, the most beneficial of which is relation to the
Russian gas," the German Ambassador said.
The factor of Nagorno Karabakh is often touched upon in the context
of formation of the new Union. Could the cooperation within the
framework of EEU lay the ground for peace and settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh issue? In response to the question, Ambassador
Morell first hailed the Armenian German relations and noted that he
sees unsolved political questions in the basis of economic issues
related to Armenia. "In particular, this is the issue of Artsakh," the
diplomat said, adding that he does not view it as a factor hampering
Armenian-German partnership.
German products easily reach Nagorno Karabakh, business recognizes
no borders, Mr. Morell said. He added that we should consider the
partnership on the "Armenian-German" level rather than differentiate
between Armenia-Germany and Artsakh-Germany cooperation.
As for security guarantees to Artsakh after the formation of EEU,
the Ambassador said: "The Union targets mostly economic issues, while
the political ones are secondary. However, regional peace is on the
agenda. The issue became more urgent after the intensification of
border clashes in early August. We can say Moscow plays a decisive
role in this regard. But I'm also confident that Azerbaijan came to
understand after the August events that there can be no alternative
to the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue."
Speaking about the sanctions against Russia, the Ambassador said "they
can be reconsidered if Russia resorts to more reasonable steps." He
said the crisis will not lead to a third world war and added that it
should be solved exceptionally in a diplomatic way.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/10/14/karabakh-issue-not-an-obstacle-to-armenian-german-cooperation-ambassador/
16:56, 14 Oct 2014
Liana Yeghiazaryan
Public Radio of Armenia
Although the European Union (EEU) is aware of the motives behind
Armenia's decision to shift to the Eurasian Economic Union, it's still
necessary to wait to see how EEU will work and whether it will come
up to the expectations, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of Germany to Armenia Reiner Morell said in an interview with Public
Radio of Armenia.
To what extent will Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic
Union affect the cooperation with the EU in general and Germany, in
particular? The Ambassador considers Armenia can no longer be as free
in its "European decisions" as before, but says we should wait to see.
"It's a difficult issue. The question refers to factors, which cannot
be assessed beforehand. The EU is aware that Armenia shifted towards
the Eurasian Economic Union out of geopolitical considerations,
also because of close historic ties with the region. We still have
to wait to see how the Union will work. Armenia is now shaping a
new legal framework. This is a transit period, where the old and
new agreements are in force. There are definitely strongly positive
aspects for Armenia, the most beneficial of which is relation to the
Russian gas," the German Ambassador said.
The factor of Nagorno Karabakh is often touched upon in the context
of formation of the new Union. Could the cooperation within the
framework of EEU lay the ground for peace and settlement of the
Nagorno Karabakh issue? In response to the question, Ambassador
Morell first hailed the Armenian German relations and noted that he
sees unsolved political questions in the basis of economic issues
related to Armenia. "In particular, this is the issue of Artsakh," the
diplomat said, adding that he does not view it as a factor hampering
Armenian-German partnership.
German products easily reach Nagorno Karabakh, business recognizes
no borders, Mr. Morell said. He added that we should consider the
partnership on the "Armenian-German" level rather than differentiate
between Armenia-Germany and Artsakh-Germany cooperation.
As for security guarantees to Artsakh after the formation of EEU,
the Ambassador said: "The Union targets mostly economic issues, while
the political ones are secondary. However, regional peace is on the
agenda. The issue became more urgent after the intensification of
border clashes in early August. We can say Moscow plays a decisive
role in this regard. But I'm also confident that Azerbaijan came to
understand after the August events that there can be no alternative
to the peaceful settlement of the Karabakh issue."
Speaking about the sanctions against Russia, the Ambassador said "they
can be reconsidered if Russia resorts to more reasonable steps." He
said the crisis will not lead to a third world war and added that it
should be solved exceptionally in a diplomatic way.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/10/14/karabakh-issue-not-an-obstacle-to-armenian-german-cooperation-ambassador/