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Not to be engaged in imitation

June 06,2015 19:28

We cannot afford us lavishness to once again deceive ourselves

The Riga Summit of the Eastern Partnership countries on May 21-22 is in the past; there were many comments voiced and estimates given. Now, it is time to wait. The European Commission has presented a positive report to the Council, which should approve the mandate to start negotiations with Armenia. It is expected that soon this mandate will be approved and Armenia and EU would officially commence the talks. Can we be sure that when Armenia and the EU officially commence the talks, and when it comes to the signing of a new agreement, Armenia would sign it? There is no such guarantee. The degree of Armenia’s dependence on Russia is so great that on the issue of signing an agreement of such importance, Armenia’s authorities should receive Moscow’s “go ahead”.

In the event of Armenia’s membership to the Eurasian Union about the extent of the scope of deepening our relations with the EU, as they say, is a subject of negotiations, if desired, it is possible to find common grounds on everything. Armenia’s authorities, particularly, Serzh Sargsyan, repeatedly announce that Armenia is ready to sign a new agreement with the EU, but on a condition that our country’s accession to the EaEU and the commitments to this structure should be taken into account. Here, indeed, a little messy is created on the perspective of providing “compatibility”, if, apart from the political component, the new agreement is going also to contain a trade-economic component. This means that the economic component of the new upcoming document with the EU can include provisions on economic competitiveness policy, transparency, investments and customs administration.

After the Riga summit, First Deputy Minister of Economy, Garegin Melkonyan, announced, “We are principally decided that these spheres would remain in the agreement to be signed. As to what wording and in what form, these would be the outcomes of the new talks.” Melkonyan provided details that they have carefully “removed and screened” everything parts from the old agreement that were incompatible with the commitments assumed before the EaEU. In addition to these technical issues, however, another fact is more important, whether there would be an agenda on political and social aspects set up inside our country, and whether our society can get the advantages that we might have from the deepening of relations with the EU. For example, the agreements on readmission, facilitation of visa regime that were signed with the EU, and which came into force in January 2014, have opened a way to launch a new process that will lead to a visa regime and liberalization of visa regime. This means that the citizens of Armenia can be exempted from the requirement of the EU visas.

The Riga summit confirmed that the EU’s doors to Armenia are not closed, and Yerevan and Brussels are preparing to sign a new agreement. The EU can repeated and reconfirm this every day. To what extent the government authorities of Armenia are ready to manifest a political will, truly implement reforms and not to be engaged in imitation. We simply cannot afford us lavishness to once again deceive ourselves. Inside our country, the political arena and the civil society – all of them have work to do. We need to be certain inside us about what we want and for the sake of what, and which are our country’s priorities. The Eurasian Union is a path leading to isolation, and let’s hope that the statements made by Armenia’s authorities, the moves taken towards the EU and the “messages” are conscious in the sense that Armenia and the Armenian society simply have no alternative.

Emma GABRIELYAN, “Aravot” daily

 

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