EU was ready to provide Armenia with 6 billion euro aid in 3-4 years –Concord center head
26.11.2013,
17:44
The European Union would have provided Armenia with some 6 billion euros aid in the next 3-4 years had not Armenia made a U-turn on September 3 to announce its plan to join the Russia-led Customs Union, according to David Shahnazaryan, head of Concord Center for Political and Legal Studies.
YEREVAN, November 26. / ARKA /. The European Union would have provided Armenia with some 6 billion euros aid in the next 3-4 years had not Armenia made a U-turn on September 3 to announce its plan to join the Russia-led Customs Union, according to David Shahnazaryan, head of Concord Center for Political and Legal Studies.
"Europe was ready to release up to 6 billion euros in assistance to Armenia to finance a long string of reforms, not as ‘pocket money,” he said to a news conference.
According to Shahnazaryan, throughout the entire period of negotiations with EU on the Association Agreement the Armenian authorities implemented no significant reform, but the Brussels shut its eyes to it because of being happy with Armenia’s foreign policy direction.
"The West has to end this policy. It should give adequate assessments of the human rights situation in Armenia and also stop the financial support of the current authorities," he said.
Shahnazaryan noted that Russia's reaction to the rapprochement of the countries involved in the Eastern Partnership program with the EU threatens European security. He also argued that Moscow-initiated integration processes are doomed to failure.
On Ukraine he said, unlike Armenia that was made to abandon its European integration course because of economic risks, in Ukraine it were direct pressure and threats against its authorities that made them to reverse their policy.
“I have no doubt that Ukraine will become part of the European family, while the collapse of the "Russian Empire" is inevitable,” he added.
According to Armenia’s 2014 draft budget, it expects to receive 25 million euros in grants from the European Union. Under this year’s state budget, Yerevan is to receive 110 million euros aid from EU. -0-
