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  • Polish Ambassador To Armenia Zdislav Rachinski: "Do You Know What Th

    POLISH AMBASSADOR TO ARMENIA ZDISLAV RACHINSKI: "DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE CUSTOMS UNION DOCUMENT LOOKS LIKE?"

    October 30 2013

    This question was addressed by the Polish Ambassador to Armenia Zdislav
    Rachinski, assuring that having the EU Association Agreement did not
    assume impossibility of having a free trade zone with the CU.

    - Mr. Ambassador, some Armenian political figures have expressed an
    opinion that as if Poland and Sweden are not the best companions or
    moderators in the EU policy towards the former Soviet Union countries,
    allegedly due to anti-Russian orientation. What is your opinion on
    these charges? For example, recently, the former Ambassador to Armenia
    Vyacheslav Kovalenko said that RF should form a 'pro-Russian elite'
    in Armenia; he believes that the West does a lot in formation of
    anti-Russian sentiments, and RF should oppose something to it.

    Wouldn't it be right for other EU countries to lead the Eastern
    Partnership process? - Eastern Partnership program, which conditionally
    can be called EPP plus European Neighborhood Program (ENP), is the
    common, joint policy of EU 28 member countries. Poland and Sweden,
    with their initiative of the Eastern Partnership, added the value by
    adding to it, which qualitatively is different from the ENP and EPP,
    and which opens new opportunities and prospects to the New Eastern
    European countries, which was formerly missing with other countries
    collaborating with the EU. Apparently, it was not accidental that
    the EPP emerged after Sweden and Poland became members of the EU,
    by enriching the European democratic community with their knowledge
    of Eastern Europe, with the vision of their historical commitment
    and solidarity. As for anti-Russian imaginary claims, if any...,
    in my opinion, they emerge as a result of lack of knowledge, which
    certainly is not commendable, but it is possible to correct it. And
    the facts about my country are as follows: Poland as an EU country
    after Germany, Italy and the Netherlands is the fourth largest country
    in turnover rates with the RF. Poland is the only country in the
    Schengen area, where Russian citizens can visit without a visa. Along
    with Germany and France, Poland has the infrastructure of the most
    branched institutes with RF in the EU. There is even such a slight,
    but quite eloquent fact that Poland is the only EU and NATO country
    where the RF Foreign Minister attended the meeting of ambassadors as
    an honored invitee. What anti-Russian are you talking about?... I
    do not want to think that those who claim about Polish imaginary
    anti-Russian, are doing this with insidious intention, though, of
    course, such speculations, obviously, do not revive from the interests
    of Poland and, not to speak about the interests of development of
    Polish-Russian constructive relations. Of course, I do not want to
    think that Poland is blamed in anti-Russian activities for the fact
    that we have consistently and disinterestedly supported to the right
    of free choice and independence of other countries, to aspirations
    of the peoples of new Eastern Europe to live in democracy and welfare
    conditions, to become developed with their own vision to the perception
    of the world and the future of the region. Like during the communism,
    Poland's democratic forces were not accepting Brezhnev's Doctrine,
    so as today's Poland does not recognize and accept the policy of
    the canon-eternal territories. - However, it leaves the impression
    that a very tough battle is going for the South Caucasus between the
    West and RF, don't you agree? - I would not use the word "battle",
    perhaps, a competition of different value systems, of different
    systems of integration. There are certain indicators of values. Some
    believe that it is better to develop in authoritarian regimes, in
    the presence of centralized economy, at least a strong centralized
    authority and charismatic leader. At the same time, successful example
    of modernization and development of Singapore is mentioned. There is
    another system, according to which, to quote RF President "freedom is
    better than non-freedom", "choice is better than the lack of choice."

    Everything that has emerged in the European continent, starting from
    ancient Greece to modern EU, has not been created in one day, it has
    been tested for centuries with its mistakes, and, good or bad, it is
    operating in current social and state models. All of this we call the
    European value system. This system functions, although sometimes there
    are difficulties. What we call European values, these are not only
    democracy, free elections, priority of law and the institutions of
    the enforcement thereof, but the first of all fundamental importance
    of the right of the person, the individual. Accordingly, of course,
    I disagree when this is denied, it is simply a consequence of lack
    of knowledge or intent. Yes, I can agree with you that there is not
    a battle, but a contest between these two values systems, yes, it
    is true. Any people can make a choice on how they want to live. We
    recommend what has worked effectively. Recently you have traveled to
    Poland and have seen what today's Poland looks like. If you were in
    Poland twenty years ago, you would have felt the difference. It is
    obvious. Despite all the difficulties that are there, and everyone
    has, the progress is obvious, and I do not mean only well-being,
    but also institutional, infrastructure development, civil society,
    mass media freedom. Therefore, when Poles and Czech say that you
    can achieve all this, they are not just words, but a belief by own
    example that all of that can be really achieved. Therefore, it is not
    accidental that my very country puts forward the Eastern Partnership
    program with Sweden. There was nothing as such before, and I dare to
    conclude that, if not the Polish-Swedish initiative, in addition to
    the Neighborhood project, no other initiative would be generated. -
    Mr. Rachinski, the authorities announced that the Association Agreement
    between Armenia and the EU is still pending. This was stated by Deputy
    Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan a few days ago.

    He also noted that the official Yerevan is working on "legally
    renovating" the document. Do you know what work is being done,
    and what it is about? - My country's position for Armenia and the
    EU is clear, open and permanent. Poland supports the nearest and
    closest relations of Armenia with EU, which will have such a form
    and legal basis, which Armenian wants and can have. Of course, from
    our perspective, the optimal solution for Armenia, which has an open
    and liberal economy, which has achieved a lot and has successfully
    completed the negotiations with the EU regarding enhancement of free
    trade and prospects on establishment of EU Association Agreement
    and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, would be to develop
    the economy and modernize the country within the framework of EU
    Association. Poland employed its authority and put forth much effort
    to convince its EU partners to make this approaches acceptable. But,
    as far as Armenia decided to choose a different model of integration,
    we fully respect Armenia's freedom of choice, and we will seek other
    remedies and decisions with other EU countries and the European
    Commission, who will respond everything that we've accomplished,
    and will find new legal framework for closer cooperation between
    Armenia and the EU. As to how the new agreement will be called, the
    question remains open; it can be called an Association Agreement. It
    is not the name of the agreement that is important, but the content,
    and to ensure that it meets the aspirations of the people of Armenia
    and the authorities, who want to see them in the EU Association. In
    other words, not a blank document, but rather a tool, a road map, if
    you like, for transformation and modernization of the country. Here's
    what is the main. Due to known technical and legal reasons, currently
    the Association Agreement and DCFTA agreed between Armenia-EU can not
    be adopted in July. It has been two years since I am celebrating the
    incompatibility of two different regulatory systems, the Association
    Agreement and DCFTA with the Customs Union in the conditions that
    they exist today. And, I do not understand why documentation of this
    obvious fact sometimes irritates people. But what is impossible today,
    could be possible tomorrow... As for how the document will be called:
    updated and modernized, ultimately, it is important that the concept
    may have different contents. EU Association Agreements have been
    signed with various countries, particularly with the countries
    of North Africa, but they are completely different association
    processes, they do not have similar economic component, nor include
    the issue of visa facilitation. What was and, I think, is still
    in negotiations with Armenia, was a different matter, since the EU
    Association Agreement and DCFTA with Armenia had already been agreed,
    and the negotiations were completed. In other words, it was already
    a road map for creation of a common economic area, which was not,
    for instances, with Morocco, with which the EU is just beginning
    to negotiate on free trade are. Meanwhile, for Armenia and other
    countries, it was immediately suggested. Armenia and other countries
    of the Eastern Partnership are the EU European neighborhood countries,
    which are geographically and culturally closer to the EU countries,
    therefore, such a high degree of integration was offered to them. If
    you cut off the economic section of the agreement, the solid part of
    the political section remains without this path. Armenia has always
    said that the EU Association Agreement for Armenia is the path of
    country's modernization. And, now, to be honest, it is not so clear for
    me how the process should proceed. And, the fact that the Association
    Agreement remains on the agenda, I share this opinion because neither
    Armenia nor the EU will not go to anywhere, they will continue to be
    neighbors, and a platform of joint actions should be created around
    cooperation. How deep this agreement should be modernized, it will
    depend on Armenia, because we do not know what obligations Armenia
    will assume, declaring that it is ready to join the Customs Union. To
    the point, association with EU in no case assumes impossibility of
    having a free trade area with the Customs Union. And the contrary,
    as President Putin directly noted in Minsk, was impossible. EU does
    not say that it is impossible to be associated with the EU and at the
    same time to have free trade relations with the CIS countries. We
    say that it is not possible to combine the two regulatory regimes,
    there are such taxes and customs here, different ones over there,
    such traffic rules here, different ones over there, in short, it is
    technically impossible to combine. - And how do you feel about the
    calls, to publicize the text of the Association Agreement, taking into
    account the fact that quite speculations were voiced. For example,
    it was said that RF is not against the EU-Armenia cooperation, but
    it was against Armenia's conceding a part of its sovereignty to EU
    by signing this agreement. Mr. Ambassador, was there such a danger,
    if Armenia had accepted the Association Agreement? - You know, they
    are really speculations, which are aimed at sowing seeds of suspicion
    outdated in something for which there are no bases at all. First,
    let's start with the technical issues of the problem: publication of
    the agreement.

    Armenia-EU Association Agreement will be made public after initialing.

    Why not earlier?... Because almost a year would pass from initialing
    to signing, and meanwhile the public would get to know and express
    opinion. To the point, the initialing document was still not the
    main text, but it was still undergoing changes, the development was
    underway, and based on that logic, every day new changes were to
    be published until initialing, which would be meaningless. As for
    the content of the agreement, it is not a geopolitical agreement
    about Nagorno- Karabakh, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, but just a
    regulatory economic agreement on how to make free trade, and what are
    the prospects for future EU-Armenia relations. As for the aforesaid
    speculation, fortunately or unfortunately, are not generally touched
    upon. The Agreement did not also contain clauses on conducting joint
    flights to the space, as well as about capturing the Antarctic. On the
    other hand, do you know what the document on Customs Union is about?...

    Was it published?... - Some Russian experts have voiced the opinion
    that the Customs Union does not need Armenia, but they are sure that
    Armenia announced joining the CU under the pressure of Russia. What do
    you think, why did Armenia made this step, anyhow, were there pressures
    towards the Armenian side? - There are two opinions: In his speech at
    the European Parliament, Mr. Fule definitely spoke against the pressure
    of third countries on the Eastern Partnership member countries,
    compelling them to make this-or-that decision. Armenia's authorities
    have officially stated that there has not been any pressure. This
    is what we perceived. Based on this statement, I acknowledge that
    Armenia has made its decision by pondering and not impromptu, it
    was an agenda item and a subject of negotiations for a long time
    that everything was calculated, and that the decision will provide a
    real benefit to Armenia, above all, economic advantages. I'm talking
    about the economic aspects since Armenia is regulating the security
    issues in the framework of CSTO and bilateral agreements. I do not
    know any other calculations, but I am aware of our experts' studies,
    according to which the adoption of the EU Association Agreement
    with Armenia would result in total increase of Armenia's produce,
    in annual growth of GDP by two to three per cent, in other words,
    around 150 million euros per year. But the most important thing that
    my Armenian colleagues were assuring is the provision of the road
    of rapid modernization of the country through the EU Association
    Agreement, which can not be measured by numerical indexes, but in
    terms of historical perspective, it was obvious. The EU is a unique
    organization. It is not only the world's most powerful economic union,
    but also a mechanism of cooperation of countries in all various
    areas in the earlier history. Despite the available problems, it is
    a working mechanism. Three countries, as of today, constitute part
    of the Customs Union: Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia. Of course, it
    is difficult to assess the level of democracy in these countries,
    because I do not work in those countries, but I dare to say that
    this level is not higher than in EU countries. I also think that the
    internal problems with regard to the development of the society are
    better regulated in EU countries than in CU member countries. When
    choosing this-or-that direction, we make the choice not only in
    today's economic interests, but between development prospects. You
    know, it's quite risky to make a decision on joining the EU, I do not
    hide it, because it requires tremendous efforts within the country,
    determination and vision. It might be safer to stay where there are.

    But, one who achieves new heights, moves on. Accordingly, it's
    not an easy choice. From psychological point of view, I realize the
    frustration by the society because there were some hopes, expectations
    over there, but the historical process is not counted in months,
    it's a longer process, and, indeed, everything is still pending.

    EMMA GABRIELYAN

    Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/10/30/162273/



    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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