Eastern dimension - priority in Polish foreign policy

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Eastern dimension is a priority in Polish foreign policy, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski stated. As he pointed out, this has been affirmed by the joint Polish-Swedish initiative to establish the Eastern Partnership – a program designed to consolidate political, economic and social ties between the countries of Eastern Europe and the European Union and to facilitate their approximation to Europe. “In line with the tenets of the Partnership, Poland intends to work for closer relations between the European Union and countries of South Caucasus. We attach particular importance to the negotiations on association agreements, enhanced free-trade accords and visa liberalization. Poland will push for an expeditious conduct of these negotiations so that the people of Armenia can enjoy the relevant benefits as soon as possible. Armenia, like other countries of South Caucasus and Eastern countries in general, can count on Poland as its advocate in European and Euroatlantic structures,” the Foreign Minister noted.

Obviously, Radoslaw Sikorski said, Poland and the entire European Union would prefer in its immediate neighborhood a zone of stability, security and prosperity, rather than an unstable and impoverished region, posing challenges to the EU. “The Union wants its Eastern neighbors to be strong, independent, democratic and flourishing countries. The security and stability of South Caucasus, as demonstrated by the recent, dramatic developments, impacts the security and stability of all of Europe.”

“But Armenia’s approximation to the European Union and its adjustment to Union standards does not hinge exclusively on the success of the negotiations concerning the association agreement or visa facilitations. Armenia needs to be resolute and systematic in conducting state reforms.

It is not the objective of the Eastern Partnership to extend financial aid to the partner countries; that aim is served by other international institutions and programs. The Partnership has the goal of bringing about tangible approximation of the partner countries to the European Union through the adjustment of their legislation, norms and standards to those in the EU. The European Union has allocated a total of EUR 1.6 billon for programs addressed to the Eastern countries. Armenia is one of the leading beneficiaries of that aid and ranks second in terms of assistance per capita. The possibility of increased funding is not determined so much by the economic crisis as by the evaluation of the effects of the Partnership by the European Union and its respective member states. However, first we need to ensure optimum use of the funds already in hand and then we can consider the prospects for increased financial allocations to Partnership projects,” the Minister concluded.