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Armenia Goes On With Euro-Atlantic Integration: Semneby

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  • Armenia Goes On With Euro-Atlantic Integration: Semneby

    ARMENIA GOES ON WITH EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATION: SEMNEBY

    news.am
    Nov 2 2009
    Armenia

    Turkey initiated reconciliation with Armenia not due to benevolence
    towards the country, but because it is in Turkey's interests, EU
    Special Representative for the South Caucasus Peter Semneby told in
    Nov. 2 interview with Russian Vremya Novostey daily.

    According to him, this step is one of the first marks of Turkish new
    policy towards neighbors. Though the solution to the issue is of
    vital importance to Armenia, "the completion of the process is in
    Turkey's interests." The official expressed confidence concerning
    the final ratification of the Protocols, underlining impossibility
    of full guarantee of the issue.

    "Normalization will give new opportunities that will positively impact
    on the security and regional economy," he added. Commenting on the
    remark that Armenian, Azerbaijani and Karabakhi leaders nonetheless
    come to Moscow after each breakthrough in Armenian-Turkish process,
    Semneby replied that Russia's interests in the South Caucasus are of
    no secret and "the country wishes to protect it."

    "The fact that Russia links its interests with progress in these
    complicated settlement processes, is a positive factor. If Russia
    plays active role in the issues' settlement, we can do nothing but
    welcome it," Semneby said, adding that Russia has significant economic
    interests in Armenia and diversification of the economy as well as
    increase of dynamics is also in Russia's interests. "The major factor
    for the economic growth is border opening with Turkey."

    As to the further prospects on Armenia's Euro-Atlantic integration
    after the problems' solution with Turkey, Semneby underlined that
    Armenia also participates in the EU programs, such as European
    neighborhood and Eastern Partnership along with other states. He
    also informed that the talks on association membership with EU will
    commence shortly: "It will continue regardless the border opening."
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