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R. Sikorski: Warsaw Summit To Fix New Pretentious Landmarks

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  • R. Sikorski: Warsaw Summit To Fix New Pretentious Landmarks

    R. SIKORSKI: WARSAW SUMMIT TO FIX NEW PRETENTIOUS LANDMARKS

    ARMENPRESS
    10:20, 29 September, 2011

    Sweden and Poland among EU member states came forth with an
    initiative, which suggested an expanded cooperation with EU eastern
    neighbor-countries - Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Moldova
    and Belarusia. The summit of the Eastern Partnership will be held in
    the upcoming days in Warsaw, capital of Poland. At the threshold of
    the summit Polish Foreign Minister Radoslav Sikorski gave an exclusive
    interview to Armenpress on the successes and issues of the Eastern
    Partnership.

    - Poland was one of initiators of the Eastern Partnership. In this
    period of time what are the most tangible results of the initiative?

    - Among the most tangible results of the Eastern Partnership is the
    launching of EU negotiations on Association Agreements with Armenia,
    Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova in 2010, EU Action Plan on visa
    liberalisation for Ukraine and Moldova, in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

    Consequently, both countries are on the way to visa free regime with
    EU. Georgia started implementing visa facilitation agreement at the
    beginning of 2011;

    Among the achievements is that the EU raised financial support
    for the EaP and the Eastern Partners. Additional funds are also
    envisaged by 2013. Comprehensive Institutional Building Programmes
    (CIB), supporting Eastern Partners, are being implemented (~@173mln
    by 2013 for all Eastern Partners). European Investment Bank within the
    Eastern Partners Facility and the EIB external mandate made available
    [email protected] for Eastern European countries. The EaP multilateral path
    of developing cooperation in specific areas was established along
    with several flagship initiatives.

    - In which ways can this initiative be mutually beneficial both for
    Armenia and the EU?

    - The Eastern Partnership offers the Eastern European countries an
    ambitious project of gradual political and economic integration with
    the EU, as well as an advanced mechanism offering specific support
    in modernisation and transformation into full market-economies and
    democracies, based on European values, standards and norms. As a
    result of such cooperation, the EU enhances the stability, security
    and prosperity of the entire continent.

    - What does Poland expect from the Eastern Partnership Summit?

    - The EaP Summit in Warsaw should bring additional impetus to the
    initiative and set out new ambitious guidelines for its further
    implementation. Poland expects that the Summit will reconfirm EU
    readiness to acknowledge the European aspirations of Eastern Partners,
    confirm the possibility of signing of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement
    and Deep and Comprehensive Free trade Agreement (DCFTA), as well as
    the launching of EU-Moldova and EU-Georgia negotiations on DCFTA -
    this year, make visa-free regime goal achievable to all partners that
    will meet necessary but clearly formulated EU conditions, open the way
    for interested Eastern partners to full integration with EU internal
    market and to establishing an economic area between the EU and partner
    countries, deepen sector cooperation in the area of transport, energy
    efficiency, energy security, agriculture, etc, facilitate Eastern
    partners' participation in EU agencies and programs (e.g. lifelong
    learning programmes, including the Erasmus programme), confirm the
    "more for more" principle under which partners involved intensely in
    deepening cooperation with EU are to obtain additional EU support.

    - How do you assess the pace of the negotiations of the association
    agreement between Armenia and the EU? When will it be possible to
    sign the agreement?

    - The process of negotiations which started in July 2010 and the
    current dynamic talks could be described as satisfactory.

    Nevertheless, the most difficult chapters of the agreement, among
    them the one on establishing the free trade zone, are still ahead. It
    is clear that this process-with so many difficult regulations to be
    implemented into the Armenian legislation-has to take more time.

    Poland urges both the European Commission and Armenia to enhance
    their efforts conduct the negotiations efficiently. In this regard,
    the EU Comprehensive Institution Building Programme was prepared,
    aiming at improving the capabilities of the Armenian administration.

    - On 28-29 July the President of Poland visited Armenia. In what manner
    did this visit contribute to the future development of Polish-Armenian
    bilateral relations?

    - It is important to remember that President Komorowski's official
    visit to Armenia was preceded by visits of Prime Minister Tusk and
    Foreign Minister in 2010. These three events show Poland's interest
    in Armenia. From the political point of view, Armenia is a member
    of the Eastern Partnership-we would like to see the success of your
    pro-European efforts. Poland is also eager to enhance its economic
    relations with Armenia-last year an intergovernmental agreement to
    that effect was signed. During President's visit it was announced that
    a Polish company would provide new biometric passports and IDs for
    Armenians. We hope that such a success will pave the way for other
    companies to start business with our Armenian partners.

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