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ARMENIA'S INTENTION TO JOIN CUSTOMS UNION RELATED TO ITS LONG-STANDING TIES WITH RUSSIA - PRESIDENT SARGSIAN
Interfax, Russia
May 13 2014
YEREVAN. May 13
Yerevan's intention to join the Customs Union is related to
long-standing ties between Armenia and Russia, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsian said.
"The basis of the Armenian-Russian relations is friendship. For a long
time we lived in one state system related culturally and economically.
This is the basis of our relations and no one should be surprised
by Armenia's decision to join the Customs Union," Sargsian said at
a news conference with his French counterpart Francois Hollande in
Yerevan on Tuesday.
Armenia has not terminated economic relations with the EU, Sargsian
said. "It is desirable that Armenia be offered a certain association
agreement," he said.
France does not condemn this integration decision of Armenia,
Hollande said.
Of course, France would like Armenia to be completely associated
with the EU but Paris can not make Yerevan terminate economic ties
with Russia - Armenia lives in exceptional conditions, the French
president said.
As to the Karabakh conflict, Hollande said he was ready to make every
effort to resolve it peacefully.
The existing truce is not a solution - it is necessary to find a real
solution for the conflict and France is ready to have the Armenian
and Azerbaijani presidents visit in order to search for solutions,
the French president said.
The approaches to resolving conflict differ, Sargsian said.
"The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Minsk group co-chairpersons declared a single stance several times,
in particular, that the final status of Nagorny Karabakh should be
decided on the basis of the existing free declaration of will of
people, which has legal force. This principle has no alternative,
however Azerbaijan is trying to interpret different principles its
own way but nothing will come out of it," the Armenian president said.
Holland has raised the Crimean issue at the news conference as well.
France is committed to international law in resolving various issues,
in this case, to the principle of territorial integrity, and the French
stance regarding Crimea assumes namely this principle, Hollande said.
It is necessary that Turkey recognize the Armenian genocide, Hollande
said. The French president said he would come to Armenia on April 24,
2015, when the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman
Turkey will be marked.
ez cm
From: A. Papazian
Interfax, Russia
May 13 2014
YEREVAN. May 13
Yerevan's intention to join the Customs Union is related to
long-standing ties between Armenia and Russia, Armenian President
Serzh Sargsian said.
"The basis of the Armenian-Russian relations is friendship. For a long
time we lived in one state system related culturally and economically.
This is the basis of our relations and no one should be surprised
by Armenia's decision to join the Customs Union," Sargsian said at
a news conference with his French counterpart Francois Hollande in
Yerevan on Tuesday.
Armenia has not terminated economic relations with the EU, Sargsian
said. "It is desirable that Armenia be offered a certain association
agreement," he said.
France does not condemn this integration decision of Armenia,
Hollande said.
Of course, France would like Armenia to be completely associated
with the EU but Paris can not make Yerevan terminate economic ties
with Russia - Armenia lives in exceptional conditions, the French
president said.
As to the Karabakh conflict, Hollande said he was ready to make every
effort to resolve it peacefully.
The existing truce is not a solution - it is necessary to find a real
solution for the conflict and France is ready to have the Armenian
and Azerbaijani presidents visit in order to search for solutions,
the French president said.
The approaches to resolving conflict differ, Sargsian said.
"The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)
Minsk group co-chairpersons declared a single stance several times,
in particular, that the final status of Nagorny Karabakh should be
decided on the basis of the existing free declaration of will of
people, which has legal force. This principle has no alternative,
however Azerbaijan is trying to interpret different principles its
own way but nothing will come out of it," the Armenian president said.
Holland has raised the Crimean issue at the news conference as well.
France is committed to international law in resolving various issues,
in this case, to the principle of territorial integrity, and the French
stance regarding Crimea assumes namely this principle, Hollande said.
It is necessary that Turkey recognize the Armenian genocide, Hollande
said. The French president said he would come to Armenia on April 24,
2015, when the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide in Ottoman
Turkey will be marked.
ez cm
From: A. Papazian