The EU not to sign Armenia-EU framework agreement right before the elections: Bedo Demirdjian
“We may wait for the conclusion of Armenia-EU framework agreement by the end of the year,” Bedo Demirdjian, media relations officer for the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s (ARF) Hay Dat Committee of Europe, told 168.am, reflecting to deadlines of Armenia-EU framework agreement.
Armenia-EU negotiations, launched on December 7, 2015 have intensively proceeded last year. In a period of a year the sides managed to launch 7 stages of new framework agreement negotiations between Armenia and the European Union (EU). According to Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, and Ambassador Piotr Switalski, Head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia, they have passed in an atmosphere favorable for further negotiations, recording successful results.
According to Armenian Foreign Minister 2-3 more stages will be necessary to accomplish the negotiations.
Bedo Demirdjian agreed that Armenia-EU negotiations had a very good development last year. According to him, both sides are satisfied with the process, complicated issues, in particular, adopting Armenian market to Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), are already being settled.
“They may already touch upon the end of negotiations, which, probably, will be launched this spring. However, end of negotiations and signing of the agreement are two different processes. If negotiations are accomplished right prior to the forthcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia or 40 days before, the EU won’t sign such a document, it’ll do it some period later. If negotiations are accomplished 40 days before the elections, the EU won’t sign a document for the reason that the signature wasn’t perceived as a support to the incumbent authorities, leading political party.
By the way, this doesn’t refer to Armenia only, this approach comprises a part of European procedure and laws. Armenia’s incumbent authorities also realize that this is the procedure,” Bedo Demirdjian said. According to the latter we may wait for the signing of Armenia-EU framework agreement by the end of the year.
“Naturally, as soon as negotiations are accomplished, and if they don’t coincide with the 40 days preceding the elections, it may be signed earlier as well, but if they coincide, its conclusion will be left to the next stage. EU presidency is changed every 6 months, currently it’s Malta, another country will assume the position from July. Thus, we may suppose that it’ll be singed in summer or September, however, currently we can’t clearly anticipate, as negotiations are in process and anticipations may be less realistic in this regard.
ARF Hay Dat Committee of Europe and generally Armenians in Europe are content with the process of negotiations and hope that agreement signing will provide Armenia great opportunities,” Bedo Demirdjian said.
By Araks Martirosyan
