Russian lawmaker says Moscow never made Armenia choose between blocs
28.11.2017,
15:24
As a sovereign state Armenia has the right and the possibility to cooperate with Russia, the European Union and other subjects of international relations, Russian State Duma (lower parliament chamber) deputy Sergey Zheleznyak said today in Yerevan, while commenting on the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement Armenia signed with the European Union on November 24.
YEREVAN, November 28. / ARKA /. As a sovereign state Armenia has the right and the possibility to cooperate with Russia, the European Union and other subjects of international relations, Russian State Duma (lower parliament chamber) deputy Sergey Zheleznyak said today in Yerevan, while commenting on the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement Armenia signed with the European Union on November 24.
"Russia has always proceeded from the principles of maximum cooperation with its sovereign partners, including Armenia, and spoke in favor of realizing their full potential of opportunities both in relations with the Russian Federation and with other countries. We never made Armenia or any other country to choose between partnership with Russia or other bloc", said Zheleznyak.
According to the Russian parliament deputy, it would be strange if Armenia did not use its capabilities and did not develop a multi-vector foreign policy, including cooperation with the European Union.
"Obviously, Armenia implements its foreign policy potential both with Russia and with other parties, and it is important that the agreement with the EU clearly states that it does not contradict Armenia’s obligations, it has assumed in the framework of activities in other integration associations," said Zheleznyak.
Armenia and the EU were supposed to sign the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) at a 2013 November Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius but on September 3 Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan announced that the country was going to become part of the Russian-led Customs Union. Armenia's opposition and some experts claimed at that time that the U-turn stemmed from strong Russian pressure.
On December 7, 2015 Armenia and the EU launched talks on a new framework agreement after EU Foreign Affairs Council authorized earlier the European Commission and the High Representative to open negotiations on a new legal basis for relations with Armenia. -0-
"Russia has always proceeded from the principles of maximum cooperation with its sovereign partners, including Armenia, and spoke in favor of realizing their full potential of opportunities both in relations with the Russian Federation and with other countries. We never made Armenia or any other country to choose between partnership with Russia or other bloc", said Zheleznyak.
According to the Russian parliament deputy, it would be strange if Armenia did not use its capabilities and did not develop a multi-vector foreign policy, including cooperation with the European Union.
"Obviously, Armenia implements its foreign policy potential both with Russia and with other parties, and it is important that the agreement with the EU clearly states that it does not contradict Armenia’s obligations, it has assumed in the framework of activities in other integration associations," said Zheleznyak.
Armenia and the EU were supposed to sign the Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) at a 2013 November Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius but on September 3 Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan announced that the country was going to become part of the Russian-led Customs Union. Armenia's opposition and some experts claimed at that time that the U-turn stemmed from strong Russian pressure.
On December 7, 2015 Armenia and the EU launched talks on a new framework agreement after EU Foreign Affairs Council authorized earlier the European Commission and the High Representative to open negotiations on a new legal basis for relations with Armenia. -0-
