European Union seeking "clarification" from Armenia on its plan to join the Russian-led customs union
04.09.2013,
17:53
The European Union is seeking "clarification" from Armenia on its plans to join the Russian-led Customs Union and remains committed to advancing ties with its eastern neighbors, a spokeswoman for Catherine Ashton, EU’s foreign policy chief, said Wednesday.
YEREVAN, August 4. /ARKA/. The European Union is seeking "clarification" from Armenia on its plans to join the Russian-led Customs Union and remains committed to advancing ties with its eastern neighbors, a spokeswoman for Catherine Ashton, EU’s foreign policy chief, said Wednesday.
Armenia’s president Serzh Sargsyan said Tuesday after talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow that Yerevan had decided to join the Customs Union of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, as well as the proposed Eurasian Economic Union strongly promoted by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The decision means Armenia is unlikely to be able to sign the Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) agreement with EU, slated originally for November in Vilnius.
“We are seeking further clarification from the Armenian side,” spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic said. “Then we will be able to assess the implications.” She said the EU is “firmly committed to the Eastern Partnership” agenda of closer ties with eastern neighbors “and we hope it is the same with our partners.”
The EU was expected to make a fuller statement on Armenia's surprise move later Wednesday. ---0--
