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EUROPEAN PLURALISM: OFFICIALS CAN'T DECIDE ON ARMENIA
September 6, 2013 - 23:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - It seems that European officials can't agree on how
to react to Armenia's decision to join the Russia-led Customs Union, as
the statements they make regarding the issue are quite contradictory.
At first, Europe was furious about Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's
announcement.
"We expect clarifications from Armenia, and then we will be able
to assess the consequences this move may have," Maja Kocijancic ,
a spokesperson for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy Catherine Ashton, said in Brussels.
Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, which holds
the rotating EU presidency, said Armenia "has blocked its chances of
signing a free trade deal with the European Union by choosing to join
the Russia-led union."
"We respect any choice of countries but they cannot enter both
organizations at the same time because of different tariff
requirements," he said.
In a separate statement, Linkevicius and seven other ministers
from Nordic and Baltic countries warned against Russian pressure on
post-Soviet states. "Any economic threat or political pressure directed
against Eastern partners because of their European aspirations and
engagement with the EU is unacceptable," they said.
Gunnar Hokmark MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group in the European
Parliament responsible for neighbourhood policies said that Armenia
is turning away from Europe. "By saying yes to a Customs Union with
Russia, Armenia is saying yes to more dependence on the Putin regime
and No to a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. With this
step, the prospects for democracy will be weakened and the risk
of increased Russian influence over its neighbors will increase,"
he stated.
Besides, The European People's Party (EPP) Political Assembly (PA)
issued a statement, which says: "EU's Eastern Partnership (EaP)
project has been under threat since, in an alarming move, Russia
continues to escalate the pressure it exerts on neighboring countries.
Specifically, it has launched trade disputes with Ukraine and Moldova
and threatened the national interests of Armenia, which has forced
Armenia into the Eurasian Customs Union. Moreover, this activity
is accompanied by a massive information campaign by Russia aimed at
discrediting the benefits of the EU Association Agreement as well as
targeting key proponents of EU integration. The Eurasian Union is an
instrument being used by the Russian leadership to prevent neighboring
countries enhancing their integration with Europe in order to maintain
them as Russian satellite states. Successive EU enlargements have
brought Eastern Partnership countries closer to the EU and their
security, stability and prosperity increasingly impact upon the EU.
The European People's Party is convinced that this unacceptable
behaviour by Russia will havea negative impact on EU-Russia relations."
However, the European Commission said that the Association Agreement
(including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with Armenia
can be compatible with economic cooperation with the members of the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
"In July this year, after three and a half years, we finalized the
negotiations of the Association Agreement (including a Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with Armenia. This agreement would
allow Armenia with the EU´s support, to drive forward a program of
comprehensive modernization and reform based upon shared values,
political association and economic integration. We take note of
Armenia's apparent wish to join the Customs Union. We look forward to
understanding better from Armenia what their intentions are and how
they wish to ensure compatibility between these and the commitments
undertaken through the Association Agreement and DCFTA. Once this
consultation has been completed, we will draw our conclusions on
the way forward. We want to underline once again that AA/DCFTA is
a blueprint for reforms beneficial for all and not a zero-sum game
and could be compatible with economic cooperation with the members
of the Commonwealth of Independent States," the Commission said.
When in St. Petersburg to attend the G20 summit, European Council
President Herman Van Rompuy said that Armenia, Moldova, and, if
possible, Ukraine will hopefully sign the Association Agreement at
the Vilnius Summit in November 2013.
"This is a political agreement. The Agreement would allow Armenia to
go through comprehensive change both politically and economically.
Therefore, after getting the news about Armenia's plans of joining the
Custom's Union the EU expects to hear from Armenia what her further
plans are. We have not received official explanations from Armenia,
yet we don't think this is a zero sum game and the same refers to
Ukraine. Some benchmarks will be necessary to meet. There are some
outstanding issues but we hope to see results in Vilnius. We are still
engaged with these countries and still expect to sign the Association
Agreements," he said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, said that the European
Parliament is not going to initialize either the Associated Agreement
or the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Armenia, as it's
not compatible with membership in the Customs Union.
Pluralism is certainly a good thing but European officials had
better finally decide how to treat Armenia. Otherwise, this unnatural
disagreement may seem to be just a bad performance.
Marina Ananikyan/PanARMENIAN.Net
September 6, 2013 - 23:30 AMT
PanARMENIAN.Net - It seems that European officials can't agree on how
to react to Armenia's decision to join the Russia-led Customs Union, as
the statements they make regarding the issue are quite contradictory.
At first, Europe was furious about Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan's
announcement.
"We expect clarifications from Armenia, and then we will be able
to assess the consequences this move may have," Maja Kocijancic ,
a spokesperson for EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and
Security Policy Catherine Ashton, said in Brussels.
Linas Linkevicius, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania, which holds
the rotating EU presidency, said Armenia "has blocked its chances of
signing a free trade deal with the European Union by choosing to join
the Russia-led union."
"We respect any choice of countries but they cannot enter both
organizations at the same time because of different tariff
requirements," he said.
In a separate statement, Linkevicius and seven other ministers
from Nordic and Baltic countries warned against Russian pressure on
post-Soviet states. "Any economic threat or political pressure directed
against Eastern partners because of their European aspirations and
engagement with the EU is unacceptable," they said.
Gunnar Hokmark MEP, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group in the European
Parliament responsible for neighbourhood policies said that Armenia
is turning away from Europe. "By saying yes to a Customs Union with
Russia, Armenia is saying yes to more dependence on the Putin regime
and No to a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union. With this
step, the prospects for democracy will be weakened and the risk
of increased Russian influence over its neighbors will increase,"
he stated.
Besides, The European People's Party (EPP) Political Assembly (PA)
issued a statement, which says: "EU's Eastern Partnership (EaP)
project has been under threat since, in an alarming move, Russia
continues to escalate the pressure it exerts on neighboring countries.
Specifically, it has launched trade disputes with Ukraine and Moldova
and threatened the national interests of Armenia, which has forced
Armenia into the Eurasian Customs Union. Moreover, this activity
is accompanied by a massive information campaign by Russia aimed at
discrediting the benefits of the EU Association Agreement as well as
targeting key proponents of EU integration. The Eurasian Union is an
instrument being used by the Russian leadership to prevent neighboring
countries enhancing their integration with Europe in order to maintain
them as Russian satellite states. Successive EU enlargements have
brought Eastern Partnership countries closer to the EU and their
security, stability and prosperity increasingly impact upon the EU.
The European People's Party is convinced that this unacceptable
behaviour by Russia will havea negative impact on EU-Russia relations."
However, the European Commission said that the Association Agreement
(including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with Armenia
can be compatible with economic cooperation with the members of the
Commonwealth of Independent States.
"In July this year, after three and a half years, we finalized the
negotiations of the Association Agreement (including a Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with Armenia. This agreement would
allow Armenia with the EU´s support, to drive forward a program of
comprehensive modernization and reform based upon shared values,
political association and economic integration. We take note of
Armenia's apparent wish to join the Customs Union. We look forward to
understanding better from Armenia what their intentions are and how
they wish to ensure compatibility between these and the commitments
undertaken through the Association Agreement and DCFTA. Once this
consultation has been completed, we will draw our conclusions on
the way forward. We want to underline once again that AA/DCFTA is
a blueprint for reforms beneficial for all and not a zero-sum game
and could be compatible with economic cooperation with the members
of the Commonwealth of Independent States," the Commission said.
When in St. Petersburg to attend the G20 summit, European Council
President Herman Van Rompuy said that Armenia, Moldova, and, if
possible, Ukraine will hopefully sign the Association Agreement at
the Vilnius Summit in November 2013.
"This is a political agreement. The Agreement would allow Armenia to
go through comprehensive change both politically and economically.
Therefore, after getting the news about Armenia's plans of joining the
Custom's Union the EU expects to hear from Armenia what her further
plans are. We have not received official explanations from Armenia,
yet we don't think this is a zero sum game and the same refers to
Ukraine. Some benchmarks will be necessary to meet. There are some
outstanding issues but we hope to see results in Vilnius. We are still
engaged with these countries and still expect to sign the Association
Agreements," he said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Stefan Fule, the European Commissioner for
Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, said that the European
Parliament is not going to initialize either the Associated Agreement
or the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Armenia, as it's
not compatible with membership in the Customs Union.
Pluralism is certainly a good thing but European officials had
better finally decide how to treat Armenia. Otherwise, this unnatural
disagreement may seem to be just a bad performance.
Marina Ananikyan/PanARMENIAN.Net