Difficult days are waiting ahead for those who justify Armenia’s joining the CU in terms of “security” factor
At the session dated October 23, the European Parliament voted for the amendments of the resolution on strengthening relations with the Eastern neighborhood countries. It contained a reference to conflicts, which, according to the European Parliament, must be solved based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity and the right of nations to self-determination.
The European Parliament had re-established regional stability and security as an Eastern Partnership objective calling for an urgent solution of the conflicts in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan. The resolution stated that the EU should be actively involved in the conflict resolution process, and has mentioned about “occupation of territories” by one country to another country, and in particular it has mentioned the UN Security Council’s four resolutions, as well as OSCE fundamental principles, which are provided for in L’Aquila’s joint statement in 2009. L’Aquila’s statement was based on the Madrid principles. To remind that pursuant to the Madrid principles, “return of occupied territories” adjacent to Karabakh is required, providing an interim status to Nagorno-Karabakh by ensuring guarantees for security and self-governance, a corridor connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, and in the future, determining the status of Nagorno-Karabakh through the expression of will with a binding legal force, right of the domestic displaced population and refugees to return to their former places of residence, international security guarantees, including a peacekeeping operation.
Of course, this resolution has no legal force for Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is a consultancy, but, nevertheless, it is the position of the structure, which does not stem out from the best interests of the Armenian side regarding Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. European Parliament resolution, of course, also stressed the progress and reforms in Armenia, it also highlighted the drawbacks available in democratic system, but also expressed regret for Armenia’s intention to join the Customs Union.
Read also
Referring to the resolution adopted by the European Parliament, the official Yerevan stated at the level of Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan that the wordings in the resolution regarding Nagorno-Karabakh are contrary to the official position of the European Union, as well as to the position of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs who have international mandates of intermediary mission into the process of conflict settlement.
What position would the European Parliament have, if Armenia would initialing the EU Association Agreement in Vilnius summit, being in other level of relations with the EU as opposed to Azerbaijan?… It will be definitely difficult to insist that no such resolution will be passed, but one thing was clear the Armenia could be found on another plane in terms of protection of the interests of NK than the other side of the conflict, Azerbaijan.
Today, we can already predict that Serzh Sargsyan’s statement in Moscow on September 3 regarding joining the Customs Union will have its consequences in the relations with the West, despite the fact that Armenia’s cooperation with the EU will continue. From time to time, we will have witnessed in the adoption of such resolutions. The problem is not that superstates and international authoritative organizations are always using levers of pressure against small countries, but the fact that non-independent policy of Armenia makes Armenia vulnerable both in the relations with the West and RF. Namely, Armenia is unable to restrain the levers of pressure, but rather than creates more opportunities for the application of these levers.
Yesterday, the leaders of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan gathered in Minsk to discuss the prospects of the development of the Customs Union, and Common Economic Area, as well as the issues on formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. One of the objectives of the meeting between Putin, Lukashenko and Nazarbayev was also the discussion of the application of Armenia to join the Customs Union, said Russian Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov. Yesterday, Serzh Sargsyan also left for Belarus to participate in the sessions of Eurasian Economic Supreme Council and the Council of Heads of CIS states in Minsk.
Meanwhile, on Monday, during the meeting with the heads of the media of CIS states in Minsk, Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko made a remarkable statement saying that although in the near future Armenia can not join the Customs Union, nevertheless this topic can be raised in the future of CIS and EurAsEC member states summit. Lukashenko did not rule out the possibility that a document of Armenia’s intent to join the CU will be signed in Minsk.
In fact, it is noteworthy that yesterday RA Deputy Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan said he is unaware of whether or not the President of Armenia is going to sign a document in Minsk regarding its joining the Customs Union.
As for Lukashenko, he also recently conveyed the remarkable desire of President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev. It turns out that Nazarbayev is not against Armenia’s joining the Customs Union, but he draws attention to the fact of unresolved conflict of Nagorno-Karabakh. “It means that that there will be questions from Azerbaijan. As I understood, Ilham Aliyev has already addressed this question to his Kazakh colleague. We should consider the opinion of Azerbaijan. Europe is not so eager to accept countries with similar regional issues into its number,” said Lukashenko.
It seems that difficult days are waiting ahead for Armenian political elite who justify Armenia’s chosen path to the Customs Union in terms of the factor to provide “security”… Based on Lukashenko’s revelation, it can be concluded that Azerbaijan not joining the Customs Union, in fact, has already been engaged in putting Armenia into a “narrow situation” on Nagorno Karabakh issue with the help of other CU member countries.
Emma GABRIELYAN
