EU ELABORATES NEW STRATEGY FOR SOUTH CAUCASUS

PanARMENIAN.NET
11.09.2009 20:16 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ During a meeting on September 14, EU Foreign
Ministers are expected to launch a debate on how to bring the bloc’s
outreach to the South Caucasus up to date. The EU recognizes that
the South Caucasus is gaining in importance in terms of regional
stability, energy, and trade. All three countries (Armenia, Georgia
and Azerbaijan) are being offered association agreements which could
lead to free trade and visa liberalization. EU membership, as before,
is not on offer.

Every country interested in cooperation will be given the chance,
since no one can hold anyone else back.

EU officials familiar with recent debates within the bloc say its
current Swedish presidency has been asked to draw up a guidance
document for an in-depth review of the aims of EU cooperation with
Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.

The goals of EU outreach and the offer it makes must be the same
for all three countries, officials say. This spells a quiet end
to Georgia’s ambitions to elevate itself to a status on par with
Ukraine. Instead, it’s placed firmly in the same bracket with Armenia
and Azerbaijan, radio Svoboda reports.