LA TRIBUNE: EASTERN PARTNERSHIP PROJECT ANNOYS RUSSIA
ArmInfo
2009-04-22 13:39:00
EU Eastern Partnership Project that Czech Republic, the EU chair-state,
intends to launch on May 7 in Prague annoys Russia, La Tribune writes.
Russia does not understand why Europe tries to extend its influence
into the territory that previously depended on the Soviet Union and
has already occurred under its influence. This partnership project
initiated by Poland and Czechia applies to 6 countries (Armenia,
Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia and Azerbaijan). It aims to
accelerate democratic and economic reforms in those states, to promote
regional cooperation and make them closer to the EU. However, the
project does not provide prospects of admission to the EU. As the
day of the Prague Summit approaches, Russia is becoming more and
more active.
Thus, Deputy Foreign Minister of Russia Aleksander Grushko has recently
met with representatives of the European Commission Directorate General
for External Relations in Brussels and urged the EU to reckon with
Russia’s interest when implementing the Eastern Partnership Project. He
highlighted the importance of ‘preventing new dividing lines in the
European continent’. Official Moscow believes the partnership project
that the EU offers to the former Soviet-states may make those states
‘chose between’ Europe and Russia, La Triune writes.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
