STATEMENT ON THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP: A GENUINE DEVELOPMENT PROSPECT FOR ARMENIA AND SOUTH CAUCASUS

armradio.am
08.05.2009 10:57

The European Armenian Federation hails the Eastern Partnership (EaP)
kicked off by the European Union encompassing Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine on the 7th of May.

"The EaP offers a fair and genuine development prospect for these
six countries and especially for Armenia in prolonging and expanding
the scope of the European Neighbourhood Policy. The European Armenian
Federation considers that the EaP is the most advanced framework for
relations between the European Union and its Eastern neighbours. We
especially commend the EaP as it keeps alive the European aspiration
of some of these countries by stating that this step forward is made
"without prejudice to individual countries’ aspirations for their
future relationships with the EU."

In this regard, the European Armenian Federation urges all the regional
stakeholders to rule out any "sphere of influence" rationale bearing
in mind that acknowledging and considering the aspiration of local
populations is the surest and most straightforward way to reach peace
and stability for the mutual benefit of all.

Since we are deeply convinced that no EU policy can meet success
without genuine support from the people, we are also especially
welcoming the place granted to civil society and people-to-people
contact in the EaP Framework.

In this regard, the Federation emphasises that the generations old,
important and well-integrated European Armenian is an outstanding
asset for both EU and Armenia in the successful implementation of
the EaP. Relying on these committed European citizens and on their
friends, the European Armenian Federation is steadfastly ready to
play an active role in actual projects’ achievement in the EaP’s
framework." Reads the statement of the European Armenian Federation.