Integration to CIS and EU should not be opposed to each other: E. Nalbandyan

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Edvard Nalbandyan gave an interview to "Interfax". He spoke about position of Yerevan about integration procedures in frames of CIS and EU.

- CIS summit has been held in Ashgabat. What are the main questions CIS has to face with?

- In frames of the Ashgabat summit a thorough analysis of the past year has been made under the chairmanship of our Turkmen friends. A number of steps have been considered which are aimed to the development of cooperation in CIS. A wide range of issues has been included in the agenda. Including about dozens of questions regarding economic partnership, monetary and financial regulation, spheres of connection, communication, and environment. Cooperation in the sphere of humanitarian aid has also been under discussion.

Issues, which CIS faced 15-20 years ago, differ from modern challenges. CIS countries are doing their best for the adaptation to the realities of the present stage. By all means, there are some reserves for the accomplishment of intergovernmental cooperation; we are working for the optimization of cooperation of the CIS structures.

Armenia will continue its efforts towards reinforcement of the Commonwealth of Independent States as a structure for all-inclusive cooperation on a wide range of issues.

- How would You comment on the opinion that integration procedures in the Port-Soviet territory are incompatible with the European integration or even contradict them? What's Your assessment of "either/or" approach?

- Putting forward artificial dilemma like "either/or", contradiction is a part of the previous burden. We adhere to the harmonization of integration procedures, not their contradiction.

- Also there is an opinion that Euro-Atlantic cooperation is more important for Armenia and the Armenian side has officially declared its Euro-Atlantic inclinations. Hence, all other relations are pushed to the 2nd place, including relations with Russia as well.

- Armenia has never declared that we prefer the Euro-Atlantic cooperation to all others. When we say that we have allied strategic relations with Russia than no other words are needed, this expresses everything. We are linked by deep ties, which form the solid ground, basis, on which we can add new stones into our strong allied relations, which have withstood the test of time

As per the CIS, it should be noted that Armenia is not merely a founder, but also one of the active members of the Commonwealth. Our country is one of the leaders as regards the number of ratified and adopted documents in frames of the CIS. Armenia was one of the first to ratify the Free Trade Zone Agreement in frames of the Commonwealth.

I would like to emphasize that Armenia is successfully and dynamically developing its relations with the EU. We have almost completed the preparation of the Association Agreement and are negotiating the creation of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone. Soon enough we shall sign an agreement regarding visa regime facilitation.

Armenia is conducting an open and predictable policy. We are determined to keep strengthening our allied relations, as well as continue the development of partnership with all those counties, which are willing to develop mutually beneficial cooperation for the sake of the country's maximal involvement in international and regional formats.

Not contradiction, but the dialogue and cooperation between various integration structures can contribute to the formation of a common space for the benefit of the harmonious development without any dividing lines.