EU Parliament Vice President Ryszard Czarnecki: Armenia Important for Europe

YEREVAN (Tert.am) — In an interview with Tert.am, Vice-President of the European Parliament Ryszard Czarnecki pointed out a need to specify the platform of Armenia’s relations with the European Union (EU).

It is a favorable moment for a new stage of Armenia-EU relations. It is a new period, and Brussels will soon present a new package of a bilateral agreement. Czarnecki hopes Armenia and the EU will establish relations of a new kind. The agreement may not be identical to the Association Agreement, but it will envisage new approaches for the sides to progress.

It is going to be a specific agreement.

Mr Czarnecki believes that the platform of bilateral relations needs specifying. Armenia and the EU should start their relations from economic contacts. Armenia’s population needs a European economic system and investments, which must serve as a basis for new relations.

Asked if Armenia’s economic cooperation with the EU could be in conflict with the country’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), Mr Czarnecki said that he believes Armenia’s position is that its economic interests are in conformity with cooperation, though not without Russia’s involvement. According to him, Armenia’s economic and political interests depend on Armenia itself. Mr Czarnecki believes that Armenia’s deep contacts with Russia will not be at obstacle to a new agreement with the EU.

Armenians are well aware cooperation with the EU will prove beneficial for the country.

Armenia is of importance to the EU. Some people may fail to see it, but in Poland, for example, people realize mutually beneficial cooperation with Armenia is possible.

Armenia should not get a one-way ticket to Moscow. It should have a return ticket to Europe as well, Mr Czarnecki said. In the context of the region’s increasing political role, Armenia could be more important than it is now.