“168 Zham” considers the November 28-29 EU Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, already failed. “And Armenia is one of those who have foiled it – the first chronologically,” it writes, adding, “And President Serzh Sarkisian’s participation in the summit has the purpose of registering this failure at a high level. After September 3 [when Armenia announced its decision to join the Russian-led Customs Union] it is clear that the decision on whether Armenia should participate in the summit or not was taken in Moscow, moreover, it is likely to have been made in the last few days after Ukraine suspended the process of signing the Association Agreement with the EU.”
“Haykakan Zhamanak” thinks that in conditions when Armenia and Ukraine have “cast a shadow on the Vilnius summit” the European Union should consider it a great success that Moldova and Georgia continue to state about their commitment to initialing the accords in Vilnius. “But even many EU officials are not sure about that. Thus, the main intrigue of the summit is whether Moldova and Georgia will follow the example of Armenia and Ukraine or will remain committed to their policies adopted a few years ago. The thing is that even if these countries initial the agreements in Vilnius, it will not solve the intrigue, as the initialing should be followed by the signing.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” does not rule out that a document will be signed in Vilnius between Armenia and the European Union that will register and summarize the results of the efforts made so far and will outline the scope and objectives of further cooperation. “That document, understandably, will not be the Association Agreement and the Agreement on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Some say that it will be simply something of a declarative nature. But we don’t think that in the current situation one should underestimate the joint statement even if it is of a declarative nature. After all, life will not stop after Vilnius,” it says.
In connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to Armenia, which planned for December 2, “Zhamanak” observes: “December 2 is a symbolic date, it is the day when the Treaty of Alexandropol was signed [in 1920]. Under that treaty the first Republic of Armenia ceased to exist de jure. It is symbolic because today the thirst Republic of Armenia also has a problem of preserving its sovereignty and this problem has been created because of Putin’s imperialist ambitions.”
(Tigran Avetisian)
“Haykakan Zhamanak” thinks that in conditions when Armenia and Ukraine have “cast a shadow on the Vilnius summit” the European Union should consider it a great success that Moldova and Georgia continue to state about their commitment to initialing the accords in Vilnius. “But even many EU officials are not sure about that. Thus, the main intrigue of the summit is whether Moldova and Georgia will follow the example of Armenia and Ukraine or will remain committed to their policies adopted a few years ago. The thing is that even if these countries initial the agreements in Vilnius, it will not solve the intrigue, as the initialing should be followed by the signing.”
“Hayots Ashkhar” does not rule out that a document will be signed in Vilnius between Armenia and the European Union that will register and summarize the results of the efforts made so far and will outline the scope and objectives of further cooperation. “That document, understandably, will not be the Association Agreement and the Agreement on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. Some say that it will be simply something of a declarative nature. But we don’t think that in the current situation one should underestimate the joint statement even if it is of a declarative nature. After all, life will not stop after Vilnius,” it says.
In connection with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to Armenia, which planned for December 2, “Zhamanak” observes: “December 2 is a symbolic date, it is the day when the Treaty of Alexandropol was signed [in 1920]. Under that treaty the first Republic of Armenia ceased to exist de jure. It is symbolic because today the thirst Republic of Armenia also has a problem of preserving its sovereignty and this problem has been created because of Putin’s imperialist ambitions.”
(Tigran Avetisian)