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EU, ARMENIA TALK UP CLOSER TIES IN BRUSSELS MEETING
Transitions online, Czech Rep.
Jan 21 2015
Armenia still could conclude an association agreement with the European
Union even as it prepares to join the Russia-led Eurasian Economic
Union, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports.
Eduard Nalbandian Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian's talks
with EU officials in Brussels appear to have opened the door for a
slimmed-down pact with the free-trade component left out, the EU's
commissioner for regional policy, Johannes Hahn, said 20 January.
Yerevan began negotiations on a free-trade and political link with the
EU in 2010, but the agreement was scotched when Armenia decided to
join Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan in the Eurasian customs union,
now the Eurasian Economic Union. Armenia's change of tack was seen
as motivated by its close economic ties to Russia and by security
concerns arising from the conflict with Azerbaijan over the breakaway
region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Hahn said he hoped a few issues that require "clarification" can be
resolved with Armenia by next month. Formal negotiations could then
begin in May, when Latvia will host an Eastern Partnership summit.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said the EU "is not competing
with somebody over Armenia or over any other eastern partner."
Public Radio of Armenia reports that the EU noted Armenia's progress
in implementing political and social reforms, while also encouraging
Yerevan to step up anti-corruption, judicial, and legal measures.
Armenia is eligible to receive between 140 million and 170 million
euros ($162 million to $197 million) in EU assistance for accomplishing
these aims in the 2014-2017 period.
http://www.tol.org/client/article/24650-lavrov-calls-for-new-ukraine-cease-fire-russians-offered-free-land-in-far-east.html
From: A. Papazian
Transitions online, Czech Rep.
Jan 21 2015
Armenia still could conclude an association agreement with the European
Union even as it prepares to join the Russia-led Eurasian Economic
Union, Deutsche Presse-Agentur reports.
Eduard Nalbandian Armenian Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian's talks
with EU officials in Brussels appear to have opened the door for a
slimmed-down pact with the free-trade component left out, the EU's
commissioner for regional policy, Johannes Hahn, said 20 January.
Yerevan began negotiations on a free-trade and political link with the
EU in 2010, but the agreement was scotched when Armenia decided to
join Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan in the Eurasian customs union,
now the Eurasian Economic Union. Armenia's change of tack was seen
as motivated by its close economic ties to Russia and by security
concerns arising from the conflict with Azerbaijan over the breakaway
region of Nagorno-Karabakh.
Hahn said he hoped a few issues that require "clarification" can be
resolved with Armenia by next month. Formal negotiations could then
begin in May, when Latvia will host an Eastern Partnership summit.
Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics said the EU "is not competing
with somebody over Armenia or over any other eastern partner."
Public Radio of Armenia reports that the EU noted Armenia's progress
in implementing political and social reforms, while also encouraging
Yerevan to step up anti-corruption, judicial, and legal measures.
Armenia is eligible to receive between 140 million and 170 million
euros ($162 million to $197 million) in EU assistance for accomplishing
these aims in the 2014-2017 period.
http://www.tol.org/client/article/24650-lavrov-calls-for-new-ukraine-cease-fire-russians-offered-free-land-in-far-east.html
From: A. Papazian