RUSSIAN REPRESENTATIVE TO CIS: THINKS THAT "EASTERN PARTNERSHIP" EU PROGRAMME MEMBER-STATES MAY HAVE DIFFICULTIES IN CIS

ArmInfo
2009-05-14 12:46:00

ArmInfo. Russian representative to CIS, Executive Secretary Sergey
Lebedev thinks that "Eastern Partnership" EU programme member-states
may have difficulties in CIS. As BelaPAN Belarusian Agency reports,
Lebedev said bringing of the legislation to conformity with the
requirements of the European Union will demand revision of the
agreements within the frames of CIS, so, the countries will have
to make a choice. "These countries, being CIS members, will have to
choose where to go to and how to act", "Interfax-West" supplemented
his statement: "At the current stage, the European Union cannot set
off the losses these states may have in case they participate in the
Eastern Partnership having refused of cooperation within the frames
of CIS, since close economic ties have been built within the frames
of the Commonwealth and EU financial promises are miserable". S.

Lebedev expressed hope that "rational steps and measures will be found
not to hamper these countries to keep their membership in CIS, and they
will remain active participants in the processes in SIC space. I hope
that participation of a number of states in this initiative will not
affect their activity in CIS, and these states will remain members".