Kathy Leach on Armenia’s EEU and EU ties - Mediamax.am

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Kathy Leach on Armenia’s EEU and EU ties


UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach
UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach

Photo: Photolure

Photo: Photolure

Photo: Photolure


Within “Ambassadorial Lecture Series”, UK Ambassador to Armenia Katherine Leach had a meeting with the students of the American University of Armenia (AUA) on November 24.

 

Katherine Leach recounted about EU, spoke about Armenia-EU relations and cooperation carried on within Eastern Partnership, touched upon the crisis in Ukraine and the referendum in Scotland, etc.

 

Upon the students’ request, the Ambassador also touched upon the escalation of tension in NK conflict zone and the downing of Artsakh helicopter by Azerbaijan.

 

Mediamax presents excerpts from the Ambassador’s speech.

 

Armenia-EU ties

 

Negotiations launched over Association Agreement with Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova were long-lasting and quite painstaking. From the very beginning EU wanted Armenia to realize it and to act committed to it. I believe it’s exactly why Armenia’s September 3, 2014, decision by which Armenia stated its desire to join the Eurasian Economic Union was a surprise for many. But it’s Armenia’s choice and our present task is to find out ways to go beyond it and to move ahead.

 

The letters exchanged between Armenian and EU representatives in Vilnius in November 2014 showed that the parties are eager to persist with cooperation in human rights protection, justice reforms and other sectors. Negotiations over these issues are underway. But most importantly, Armenia should not “get oblivious” of EU’s being a large and complicated organization, which on the one hand settles issues within itself – among its member states, and on the other hand, attempts to set a broader agenda of economic integration with various countries around the world. Thus, the best a country can do when developing ties with the EU is to have a clear vision of what they want and to formulate what they expect from it. Even if the agenda of those “wishes” is not large, it has to be clear.

 

The passing year was quite hard for Armenia. The country was involved in negotiations over EEU membership and therefore it was hard for it to present its EU expectations. Armenia will complete its EEU membership process in 2015, and I hope that following it we will be able to specify our tasks and cooperation areas. We feel Armenia’s eagerness and will to continue cooperation with the EU and are ready to support it.

 

Armenia’s EEU membership decision

 

Armenia’s EEU membership decision was no longer a surprise for us. We understand that Armenia is a vulnerable state with limited capacities. Relations with Russia are of strategic importance for Armenia and security-related issues are a determining factor. The incidents that occurred over the passing year made Armenia’s decision clearer for us.

 

Azerbaijan’s downing of the helicopter

 

The United Kingdom joined the calls of the international community and backed the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. We supported the parties to come to terms on the return of the bodies of the pilots through the mediation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

 

We understand that Karabakh Forces have conducted special operation, and presently the bodies of the crew members have been returned to their families.

 

UK’s economic interests in Azerbaijan

 

British Petroleum is one of the largest investors in Azerbaijan and in this regard, we often wonder about UK’s role in this region. I tend to give the same answer – pursuing economic interests in Azerbaijan we do realize the importance of the peaceful settlement of NK conflict. We know what disastrous consequences the resumption of military actions might have in terms of local residents, economy and investments. It’s not beneficial for anyone. It is for this reason that we voice our concerns and back the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. To this end, British Minister for Europe David Lidington paid a visit to Armenia and during his meetings in both Yerevan and Azerbaijan said that the peoples of the two countries should be prepared for peace and not war.

 

Yekaterina Poghosyan

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