Ashot Grigorian: Establishment of South Caucasian Confederation will
strengthen South Caucasus-EU contacts

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YEREVAN, MARCH 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The South Caucasian countries should
unite, establish a confederation to be able to develop their future
without external influences, especially without Turkey’s influence.
Ashot Grigorian, the Chairman of the Forum of Armenian Associations in
Europe (FAAE), the head of the Armenian community in Slovakia,
expressed such an opinion at the March 6 press conference. According to
him, the six South Caucasian states, Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan,
Karabakh, South Ossetia, and Abkhazia should unite approximately by the
example of the 1918-1920 confederation. That unit, as he formulated it,
deepening its contacts with the European Union will have an economic
flight under the EU roof. After it, according to A. Grigorian’s
observation, the South Caucasian countries can receive the status of a
EU associate member in five years.

A. Grigorian stated that a strategic center can be established in
Bratislava within the framework of Eastern Partnership to ensure
EU-South Caucasus development. "As well as to establish a
representation in Yerevan for the development programs to proceed with
the mediation of Bratislava and Yerevan," A. Grigorian proposed. He
also said that Slovakia can "become an out-post for EU in the South
Caucasus."

A. Grigorian introduced the above mentioned proposals to Peter Semneby,
the EU Representative for the South Caucasus, a month ago, and it was
decided to discuss them at the next EU Economic Forum to be held in
2009 September. "We will also try to receive financial assistance from
Slovakian government," A. Grigorian said. He also said that besides
meeting P. Semneby, he also held some discussions with representatives
of Georgia and Azerbaijan, as well as with the RA Foreign Minister.