“Armenia-EU agreement clearly discusses the option of Karabakh conflict resolution, stating it will be in a peaceful way. It is very important to Armenia, we should go and sign that agreement in Brussels”, announced the Board President of the Analytical Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation, Stepan Grigoryan, responding to the overview constituting that the question of Karabakh conflict is still vague in Armenia-EU agreement.
He expressed concerns that in Armenia and out of the country they do not want the signing of that agreement and wish to hinder that process by different means. However, Mr. Grigoryan highlighted that the agreement will undoubtedly be signed.
According to the opinion of political scientist Gela Vasadze from Tbilisi, another situation has evolved for Armenia: “In 2012 the issue was political, because of that Moscow did not let Armenia sign the agreement with the EU. It is clear that it was not useful to the Russian Federation. Today the situation is different: Europe is ready to cooperate with the countries which are in Moscow’s political polity.”
Mr. Grigoryan responded: in essence, it does not matter to the Russian Federation now if the EU agreements signed by those countries comprise sections about European integration or not, Armenia encompassed. He witnessed: “Now Russia is also not happy that Armenia can sign an agreement with the EU.”
The President of the Armenian Institute of International and Security Affairs, Stepan Safaryan, responding to the ambitions of the Azerbaijani side and the fact that no clear-cut definitions are present in Armenia-EU agreement on Karabakh conflict, explained: “Disagreements on this issue are preserved. There is the famous approach of the EU, linking the conflict resolution to the Minsk Group frameworks. I do not think we will reach the point of Azerbaijan’s veto, but even in these conditions it is not yet known what will the compromise imply.”
Addressing the political significance of the agreement, Mr. Safaryan stated: “The issue is, that Azerbaijan needs a reference letter for war more. The issue is if Europe will give that reference letter to Azerbaijan, Aliyev in person? Not only one organization has expressed a concern on this. ”
Political analyst Dan Marie from Moldova mentioned all reasons which have played a role in Moldova in downfall of social moods after signing the agreement with the EU: “The reason was corruption scandals, and that those billions were to be paid back not by the officials who had stolen them, but the citizens. And that factor spilled onto the relations with the EU in the negative sense.”
Asked whether the scenario of entering the EAEU can be efficient for Moldova, the political analyst replied: “We are not interested in the EAEU. Besides, it is not an active economic community.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
Photo credit: “Media Center”
