Armenia should Withdraw from the Point Unacceptable for the EU: Boris Navasardyan

“In relations with the EU Armenia may appear in the same situation, like in 2013, when it withdrew from the Association Agreement,” Boris Navasardyan, Chairman of Yerevan Press Club, said reflecting to observations by P.Switalski that complicated issues are existent in Armenia-EU relations.

Boris Navasardyan stated that there is one complicated issue in ongoing Armenia-EU negotiations, which is obvious, and around which discussions have been held by the parties long ago. In his words it refers to the point proposed by Armenia, pursuant which a formulation should be included in the new accord, that current Armenia-EU agreement can’t obstacle Armenia’s participation in other integration institutes and initiatives. “It’s clear for everyone that it refers EEU. It’s less probable that such a criterion will be adopted by the EU. Even if adopted, it means, the document won’t be serious, as it refers frame and legally binding agreement, and any indefiniteness linked to any criterion can’t exist,” he said.

In his words, the EU proposes another approach, pursuant which the Armenian party should as a result of negotiations finally clarify its relations with any third party, and upon its desire, criteria, not hindering relations with the third party will be included. “However, after the agreement is signed, its provisions should be unconditionally implemented.

This approach is more practical, however, we realize that the point is if Armenia goes on with the same foreign policy, as it is seriously constrained recently, and maybe it fails to hold parallel negotiations with Russia on all EEU perspectives and Russia-Armenia bilateral relations, certitude in Russia-Armenia relations, which in case of EEU is difficult to imagine, in particular, when it has been repeatedly stated that EEU is a developing unit and will be finally shaped in 2025. And it’s not clear which compromises should be made from the viewpoint of sovereignty,” B.Navasardyan said.

According to him the EU is appearing with constructive proposals regarding existent issues in Armenia’s security field as well. He considers the EU proposes the Armenian party to enumerate existent issues in the field of security, then attempt to settle them by joint efforts.

“The EU says if we’re able to overcome those issues together, we will, and it will influence on the content of the new agreement, and if we fail, framework of issues, which creates threat for Armenia regarding security, we’ll bypass and not include it in the document. Only in case, when Armenia perceives and agrees to apply this, negotiations will be successful,” he said.

By Araks Martirosyan