Moldova`s Voronin criticizes EU`s regional co-op program
Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin has criticized
the Eastern Partnership program that aims to boost cooperation
between the European Union and its ex-Soviet partners.
The initiative, floated by Poland and Sweden, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. The EU is offering free trade, visa-free travel and closer energy cooperation to the six states, although membership in the bloc is not currently on the agenda. The participating countries are required to bring their laws into compliance with EU standards, pursue economic reforms and make an effort to bolster democratic development.
Voronin told Russia`s influential Kommersant newspaper that the EU`s new program mostly resembles an attempt "to create a ring" around rival Russia, an endeavor apparently aimed at setting up "a second CIS."
He emphasized that there is currently no need to create a second CIS controlled by the EU, as the South Caucasus states` integration into Europe was a complicated issue.
"Let Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan not take offense by me, but the prospect of Europe is way too far from them," the Moldovan leader said.
Voronin noted that unlike the South Caucasus states, Moldova has made considerable advances in drawing closer to Europe in recent years. He added that his country and the 27-member bloc continue cooperating constructively within the South-Eastern Balkans program.
The EU has already allotted funds of over 11 billion euros for its programs of assistance to southern and eastern neighbors in 2007-2013, with one-third of the amount to benefit the countries that will be cooperating more closely with the organization within the Eastern Partnership. The union has pledged that the states meeting its recommendations will more swiftly receive funds.
Russia and Turkey have been invited to take part in the Eastern Partnership as observers.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said security, economic and humanitarian cooperation will be of top priority for his country in the EU`s Eastern Partnership initiative.
Addressing a ceremony in Kiev to open a new headquarters for the GUAM Secretariat, the minister said Baku was working on identifying specific projects for possible cooperation with the EU. Mammadyarov pointed to the notion of three "baskets": security, economic and humanitarian cooperation. "Azerbaijan sees security, which includes the Upper Garabagh conflict [with Armenia], security, terrorism and drug trafficking, as a priority issue. We are also prepared to come up with specific projects on transit corridors, energy security, non-energy and non-oil sectors," he said.
According to the minister, the third "basket" may include ideas on simplifying visa regulations, student exchanges, and cooperation in law and science.
Mammadyarov added that the 27+6 Prague summit, scheduled for May 7, is expected to identify priority projects as well as those of secondary importance and others considered unfeasible.
The initiative, floated by Poland and Sweden, covers Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia, Ukraine, Moldova, and Belarus. The EU is offering free trade, visa-free travel and closer energy cooperation to the six states, although membership in the bloc is not currently on the agenda. The participating countries are required to bring their laws into compliance with EU standards, pursue economic reforms and make an effort to bolster democratic development.
Voronin told Russia`s influential Kommersant newspaper that the EU`s new program mostly resembles an attempt "to create a ring" around rival Russia, an endeavor apparently aimed at setting up "a second CIS."
He emphasized that there is currently no need to create a second CIS controlled by the EU, as the South Caucasus states` integration into Europe was a complicated issue.
"Let Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan not take offense by me, but the prospect of Europe is way too far from them," the Moldovan leader said.
Voronin noted that unlike the South Caucasus states, Moldova has made considerable advances in drawing closer to Europe in recent years. He added that his country and the 27-member bloc continue cooperating constructively within the South-Eastern Balkans program.
The EU has already allotted funds of over 11 billion euros for its programs of assistance to southern and eastern neighbors in 2007-2013, with one-third of the amount to benefit the countries that will be cooperating more closely with the organization within the Eastern Partnership. The union has pledged that the states meeting its recommendations will more swiftly receive funds.
Russia and Turkey have been invited to take part in the Eastern Partnership as observers.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said security, economic and humanitarian cooperation will be of top priority for his country in the EU`s Eastern Partnership initiative.
Addressing a ceremony in Kiev to open a new headquarters for the GUAM Secretariat, the minister said Baku was working on identifying specific projects for possible cooperation with the EU. Mammadyarov pointed to the notion of three "baskets": security, economic and humanitarian cooperation. "Azerbaijan sees security, which includes the Upper Garabagh conflict [with Armenia], security, terrorism and drug trafficking, as a priority issue. We are also prepared to come up with specific projects on transit corridors, energy security, non-energy and non-oil sectors," he said.
According to the minister, the third "basket" may include ideas on simplifying visa regulations, student exchanges, and cooperation in law and science.
Mammadyarov added that the 27+6 Prague summit, scheduled for May 7, is expected to identify priority projects as well as those of secondary importance and others considered unfeasible.
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