FYODOR LUKYANOV: EU HAS NO POLITICAL WILL

Public Radio, Armenia
Nov 7 2006

Russian political scientist, editor-in-chief of the "Russian Global
Policy" Fyodor Lukyanov considers that the prospects of development
of Armenia-EU relations depends on the fate of Turkey’s accession.

"If Ankara continues its successful progress toward the EU, Yerevan
will be able to assert that Armenia has even more bases to aspire for
EU membership. However, despite the great efforts of Ankara, it seems
that no one is going to let Turkey into the EU, which means that the
South Caucasus is also loosing the prospects," Fyodor Lukyanov said
in an interview with Mediamax agency.

The Russian political scientist considers that signing of the Action
Plans with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia in the framework of the
European Neighborhood Policy will not lead to the increase of EU’s
influence in the South Caucasus.

"EU’s presence in the South Caucasus will find expression in a number
of symbolic gestures, but in the rest of the questions the European
Union has no proper tools and resources of influence in this complex
region. For a long time the EU will be engaged in the resolution of
its domestic issues, and prospects of common foreign policy seem very
suspicious," said Fyodor Lukyanov.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress