It is not on EU's agenda to replace France in OSCE Minsk Group: Štefan Füle

YEREVAN, JUNE 19, ARMENPRESS: Armenia has announced development of relations with the European Union one of its priorities. About Armenia- European Union relations, influence of the Armenian elections on these relations and Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement Armenpress interviewed EU Commissionerfor Enlargement andEuropeanNeighbourhood Policy, MrŠtefan Füle.

- Mr. Commissioner, in these latest months it was affirmed by Armenian authorities and the European partners that Parliamentary elections are of a paramount importance for the future of Armenia-EU relations. Now after the elections, what is your assessment of these elections?

-High Representative Ashton and myself issued a statement on 8 May, where we welcome, based on the preliminary findings by OSCE/ODIHR, the efforts by the Armenian authorities to hold the parliamentary elections in a way which shows progress towards more transparent and competitive elections. However, we still believe that those elections also demonstrated the need to address a number of issues in order to fully meet internationally recognized democratic standards. The issues I refer to are for example the inaccuracies in the voters lists, violation of campaign-related provisions of the Electoral Code, the need to reinforce campaign financing rules and the need to review the legal framework for complaints and appeals. It will be very important to address the shortcomings identified thoroughly in the run up to the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for the beginning of next year.

- What is your perspective on Armenia-EU relations after the Parliamentary elections and what are the expectations of European partners from Armenia’s presidential elections?

-Armenia-EU relations are dynamically developing, especially with Armenia actively engaged in all aspects of the Eastern Partnership, making very good progress in all areas of the Association Agreement negotiated since July 2010. The EU in turn is continuously willing to support all ambitious reform efforts undertaken in Armenia. In the logic of the "more for more" approach, when one of the key benchmarks is holding of democratic and credible elections, we are ready to step up our assistance even further once the shortcoming mentioned earlier are properly addressed.

- Still the promotion of democracy is an important sticking point for deepening relations in the Eastern Partnership framework. How do you assess the progress of Armenia in this regard and what can we expect in near future?

-High Representative Ashton and myself have stated in the European Neighbourhood Policy Progress report on Armenia last month that while there is a serious effort to address issues related to human rights and fundamental freedoms, further work needs to be done especially in the implementation of legislation. Positive steps were taken to prepare the country for the upcoming elections, with changes in the electoral code and a presidential amnesty for the remaining persons detained for charges related to the March 2008 events. However, we still have concerns about media freedom relating to the limitations on TV broadcasting and to civil law suits for insult and defamation. Despite the reform effort, public trust in the judiciary continues to be low, and the perception of corruption is still high.

Nevertheless, let me assure you that the EU will continue to support Armenia’s efforts in these domains, through dialogue and different cooperation instruments.

- In any case regional conflicts remain the main issues for the South Caucasus. Recently it is much declared that the EU wants to have larger engagement in the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. What is the main framework that the EU wishes to engage with?

-We have outlined this framework several times, most recently in February when the Council of the European Union in its Conclusions on the South Caucasus expressed its concern over the slow progress in the negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. It confirmed the EU’s continuing support to the OSCE Minsk Group, reiterated its support for the Madrid principles and called on Armenia and Azerbaijan to step up their efforts to reach agreement on those principles as a basis for peace. The EU also expressed its readiness to provide enhanced support for confidence building measures, in support of and in full complementarity with the Minsk Group, with a view to facilitating further steps towards the implementation of peace. In this regard, I myself also discussed with the President of Armenia the need for unconditional access for representatives of the EU to Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions. I should also mention that the Council invited the High Representative and the Commission to develop, in close consultation with the OSCE, post conflict scenarios for Nagorno-Karabakh as a basis for future EU engagement.

-There were also many speculations that the EU was going to replace France in the OSCE Minsk Group. Do you consider this probable and, if realized, how can that step have a positive impact on the negotiations process?

-It is not on EU's agenda to change this format of undertaking efforts to find a political solution to the conflict in and around Nagorno-Karabakh. As I said, the Council has confirmed the EU’s continuing support to the OSCE Minsk Group. And the EU can still, however, provide enhanced support for confidence building measures.

Štefan Füle was interviewed by Armen Ghazaryan.