ARMENIA ABLE TO JOIN EU, BUT PUBLIC EFFORTS NECESSARY, POLISH AMBASSADOR SAYS

ARKA
Feb 2, 2009

YEREVAN, February 2. /ARKA/. Armenia can become an EU-member if public
puts forth necessary efforts, Ambassador of Poland to Armenia Tomasz
Knothe said during Monday discussions on the Eastern Partnership
program.

"Public involvement is essential, as tremendous efforts are necessary
to become an EU member-state," he said. "Poland has passed this
difficult test," the ambassador continued.

He emphasized the role of bringing laws in line with European criteria,
as well as economic and political reforms in achieving this goal.

Everything seems to go smooth when joining EU is just a political
objective, Ambassador Knothe said, adding the most compacted task is
"to study many volumes."

He urged Armenia to revise laws and bring economic standards in line
with European criteria to be able to join EU.

Citing public polls in Poland, the ambassador said over 70 percent
of the respondents are content with Poland’s integration into EU.

No wonder Poland aspired to join EU, taking into account many positive
sides of this integration, Ambassador Knothe concluded.