Friday, EU, Armenia Sign Landmark Deal . Harry Tamrazian Armenia - Minister of Foreign Affair of Armenia Edward Nalbandian and High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini sign the EU-Armenia agreement, Brussels, 24 Nov, 2017 The European Union and Armenia signed an agreement aimed at significantly deepening their relations at a ceremony in Brussels on Friday held on the sidelines of the Eastern Partnership Summit. Signatures to the document entitled the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were put by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and Armenia's Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. The signing ceremony took place in the presence of European Council President Donald Tusk and Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian. In her remarks after the signing of the document Mogherini said that the CEPA "is based on our common commitment to democracy, human rights and rule of law." "This agreement is the first of this kind that is concluded with a party that is also a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. It will now be very important to implement it," the EU's foreign policy chief said. (From left to right) Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian, Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward Nalbandian, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini and President of the European Council Donald Tusk pose for a photo after the signing of the EU-Armenia Agreement, Brussels, 24Nov., 2017 Nalbandian, for his part, described the "wide-ranging and ambitious document" as "our joint endeavor that opens a new chapter in the bilateral relations between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union." "The Agreement establishes a solid legal basis for strengthening the political dialogue, broadening the scope of economic and sectoral cooperation, creating a framework for new opportunities in trade and investments and increased mobility for the benefit of our citizens," the top Armenian diplomat said. According to Nalbandian, "it is important that the Agreement reaffirms the stated commitment of the European Union to support the efforts and approaches of the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group for the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict based on the norms and principles of international law, in particular, non-use of force or threat of force, equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and territorial integrity." "Armenia is determined to further develop and strengthen a comprehensive cooperation with the EU in all areas of mutual interest based on this Agreement," Nalbandian stressed. The ceremony became one of the focal points of the EU's Eastern Partnership summit that brought together the leaders of six Eastern European and South Caucasus nations in the Belgian capital on November 24. Since the launch of the Eastern Partnership program in 2009 Russia has regarded it as a potential threat to its geopolitical interests in the post-Soviet territory. In the case with Armenia, officials in both Yerevan and Brussels have repeatedly stated that the deal does not contradict Yerevan's allied relations with Moscow or jeopardize the South Caucasus nation's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union, a Russian-led trade bloc that also includes Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Russian pressure exerted on Yerevan is widely believed to have scuttled a more ambitious Association Agreement which Armenia and the EU nearly finalized in 2013. President Sarkisian precluded that accord with his unexpected decision to join the Russian-led customs union less than three months before the planned initialing of the document. Speaking to RFE/RL's Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) ahead of the summit, President Sarkisian again denied any Russian pressure in Armenia's dealings with the EU. Russian Ambassador to Armenia Ivan Volynkin told local Arminfo news agency today that "Armenia is a sovereign nation" and "has the right to participate in any pacts and associations that do not breach its existing commitments." Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who also attended the summit in Brussels, acknowledged Russia's "central role" in countries like Armenia and Azerbaijan as she spoke to Deutsche Welle earlier on Friday. Unlike the Association Agreement that Yerevan negotiated but did not sign with Brussels four years ago, the CEPA does not make Armenia part of a "deep and comprehensive free trade area" with the EU. Still, the 350-page document commits Yerevan to "approximating" Armenian economic laws and regulations to those of the European Union. Sarkisian Hopes For `Productive' Discussions At Eastern Partnership Summit Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian (R) at the European People's Party summit in Brussels, 23Nov, 2017 Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian expressed a hope for "productive" discussions as he spoke ahead of the Eastern Partnership summit, which opens in Brussels on November 24. As part of his working visit to Belgium, the Armenian leader on Thursday attended the summit of the European People's Party (EPP), which was chaired by EPP President Joseph Daul. The summit was also attended by European Council and European Commission Presidents Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Parliament Antonio Tajani, as well as the heads of state and government representing EPP-member countries and Eastern Partnership-member states. The summit's discussions focused on topical issues of Pan-European significance and preparations for the Eastern Partnership summit, which will focus on issues of further strengthening cooperation in the priority spheres as defined at the Riga Summit in 2015. President Sarkisian delivered a speech at the EPP summit, in which, according to his press office, he addressed "the agenda of EU-Armenia cooperation and the dynamics of relationship development, the importance of those issues of interest to Armenia to be discussed at the EPP and Eastern Partnership summits in Brussels, the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the European Union, as well as inter-party cooperation-related activities." The signing of the CEPA, an agreement aimed at significantly deepening EU-Armenia relations, is expected to become the main event at the Eastern Partnership summit today. Sarkisian is also the leader of Armenia's ruling Republican Party (HHK), which has been a member of the EPP with an observer status since 2012. "The HHK's cooperation with the EPP has become one of the most important platforms for Armenia's involvement in European politics," Sarkisian stressed in his speech. The Armenian leader also reportedly noted the November 15 resolution of the European Parliament that qualifies Armenia as "a country which successfully combines its Eurasian Economic Union membership with participation in the EU Neighborhood Strategy." In this view, Sarkisian gave assurances that "in the future as well, Armenia will abide by the aforementioned formula of co-existence." In his speech President Sarkisian also expressed a hope that "tomorrow's discussions at the EU Eastern Partnership Summit will be so productive as to make the joint initiatives more targeted, and the results more visible and tangible for societies." Pan-Armenian Charity Raises More Money To Support Karabakh US/Armenia - Annual Telethon of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund, 23-24Nov,2017 In another Thanksgiving Day fundraiser a pan-Armenian charity has raised over $12.5 million that it plans to mostly spend on the support of agricultural-development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh. The Hayastan (Armenia) All-Armenian Fund received the donations and pledges of donations during its annual 12-hour telethon broadcast from Los Angeles, USA, on Thursday. Hayastan raised almost $15.5 million during last year's televised fundraiser earmarked for the reconstruction of war-ravaged communities in Nagorno-Karabakh and other local infrastructure projects. The focus of the 2017 telethon is support for two major agricultural-development projects in Nagorno-Karabakh: the drilling of deep-water wells and construction of irrigation networks; and the installation of solar power stations. As always, sizable contributions have been provided by several ethnic Armenian businessmen from the United States, Russia and Armenia. An anonymous Armenian-American entrepreneur made the single largest donation of $ 2.5 million. He was followed by Russian-Armenian tycoon Samvel Karapetian, who donated $2.25 million. Armenia's Copper-Molybdenum Plant donated $350,000, Armenia-based wealthy business owner Samvel Aleksanian contributed $200,000 for the cause and the Vardanian family donated $125,000. Valex Group donated $100,000. Several families from the United States, Iran and Armenia provided hefty donations ranging from $50,000 to $100,000. Thousands of Armenians from around the world also made smaller contributions ranging from a few dollars to several thousand dollars. Hayastan has implemented over $350 million worth of projects in Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh since its establishment in 1992. The fund's current Board of Trustees is headed by President Serzh Sarkisian and comprises other senior Armenian state officials, Catholicos Garegin II as well as prominent representatives of Armenian communities around the world. In particular, in recent years the fund has partly financed the construction of a second 116-kilometer-long highway connecting Nagorno-Karabakh to Armenia. Armenians `With Time' Will Feel Benefits Of Agreement With EU, Says Sarkisian . Harry Tamrazian Belgium -- Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian gives an interview to RFE/RL's Armenian Service, Brussels, 23Nov2017 Armenians will feel the benefits of their new accord with the European Union "with time", President Serzh Sarkisian said hours before the planned signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in Brussels. The signing ceremony due today is expected to become one of the focal points of the current EU Eastern Partnership Summit that brings together leaders of six Eastern European and South Caucasus countries that are members of the program launched in 2009. RFE/RL Armenian Service Director Harry Tamrazian, who is reporting on the summit from Brussels, asked Sarkisian late on Thursday about what an ordinary citizen of Armenia would get from the planned accord. "Perhaps [ordinary citizens] will not feel its benefits immediately, but with time they will, because we are able to carry out reforms quickly with the help of the European Union," said the Armenian leader. "We don't want to invent a bicycle, there are absolute truths, and we should be guided with these truths. But in addition to internal freedoms, Armenian citizens will get an opportunity of free travel to Brussels, to Paris, to other European countries." The CEPA, which was initialed by Armenia and the EU in March, commits Armenia to reforming its institutions and strengthening human rights protection with the assistance of the EU. The 350-page document does not make Armenia part of a "deep and comprehensive free trade area", but still commits Yerevan to "approximating" Armenian economic laws and regulations to those of the EU. Some analysts believe the CEPA will also provide Armenia with an "alternative security direction." "The word `alternative' is not correct here," said Sarkisian when asked to comment on such opinions. "But, of course, especially in the case of the main challenges threatening our security, the co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group [on Nagorno-Karabakh], and especially the United States and Russia, have the same positions, and this is one of the few issues on which they fully cooperate, as they declare themselves. This, of course, is an achievement for us." In 2013, Armenia was on track to sign a more ambitious association agreement with the EU, but several months before the initialing of the document, President Sarkisian stated about Yerevan's desire to become a member of a trade bloc led by Russia, which effectively aborted plans for a deep and comprehensive free trade area with the EU. Sarkisian announced that decision during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, but denied any Russian pressure was involved. Last week the Armenian president also met with Putin in the Russian capital. No references to the planned EU-Armenia deal were made at that meeting, according to official publications. In an interview with RFE/RL's Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am) Sarkisian again denied that Russia has ever meddled in Armenia's dealings with the EU. "Soon it will be ten years that I have served as president and before that I occupied different [government] posts. I have never heard even half a word from any Russian leader, especially from President Putin, that would contain any reproach in terms of our cooperation with the European Union," the Armenian leader underscored. Sarkisian's second and final term as president expires in April 2018. According to constitutional changes approved in a 2015 referendum, Armenia has switched to a parliamentary form of government, which potentially creates an opportunity for Sarkisian to continue to govern the country as prime minister. Before the constitutional reform Sarkisian pledged not to seek a top government post after the expiry of his presidential powers, but in his later public statements he has been less categorical on this account. Asked whether he had any ideas about where he will be after the end of his presidential term, Sarkisian said: "If I had an idea, I would have already stated about it. I will speak about it when I do have an idea." EaP Summit `No Platform' For Discussing Armenian-Azerbaijani Relations . Rikard Jozwiak Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian in Brussels, 23Nov., 2017 Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian believes that the current Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit in Brussels is not "the right platform" where relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan can be discussed and resolved. He said this in comments to RFE/RL's Brussels correspondent Rikard Jozwiak ahead of the opening of the biennial event bringing together leaders of six Eastern European and South Caucasus nations cooperating with the EU under a program launched in 2009. This year's summit in Brussels could also see clashes over the gathering's final declaration, according to EU diplomats familiar with the talks. One paragraph concerning conflicts in the region has been left open after both Armenia and Azerbaijan wanted specific, but conflicting, statements on Nagorno-Karabakh, according to a draft text seen by RFE/RL. "Azerbaijan can push difficult language, but who will accept that?" Sarkisian said, adding that he did not see obstructions to the final declaration. "I don't think this Eastern Partnership summit is the right platform where our relations with Azerbaijan should be discussed," he added. The Armenian leader emphasized that it is the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe's Minsk Group and its co-chairs (represented by the United States, Russia and France) that deal with the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. "The EU has extended its full supports to the activities of the OSCE Minsk Group [co-chairs]. And we are fully content with that," Sarkisian concluded. The current text of the declaration reads: "The summit participants call for renewed efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region on the basis of the principles and norms of international law." It adds that "the resolution of the conflicts, building trust and good neighborly relations are essential to economic and social development and cooperation." EU diplomats told RFE/RL that they wanted neutral wording in the statement and to omit any mention of specific conflicts in the Eastern Partnership countries, citing squabbles between Baku and Yerevan over the 2015 declaration that delayed the summit by several hours. Sarkisian Lauds New EU-Armenia Accord BELGIUM -- Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian arrives for an EU Eastern Partnership summit with six eastern partner countries at the European Council in Brussels, The new agreement between Armenia and the European Union is "our joint achievement" that can become "a positive precedent for other cooperation projects", Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian stated on Friday as he attended an Eastern Partnership Summit in Brussels. "We consider 2017 as, indeed, one of the important milestones in the quarter-century-long history of the relations between Armenia and the EU, which is signified today under the framework of this Summit by signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. It is a comprehensive document that reflects the significant developments of the recent period of our collaboration and defines the guidelines that are necessary to deepen these relations," Sarkisian said, as quoted by his press office. The agreement known as the CEPA commits Armenia to reforming its institutions and strengthening human rights protection with the assistance of the EU. The 350-page document does not make Armenia part of a "deep and comprehensive free trade area", but still commits Yerevan to "approximating" Armenian economic laws and regulations to those of the EU. "This Agreement is not merely a legal document, but a reflection on the wealth of values of human rights and fundamental freedoms that we share. Important elements of the strengthening of democracy such as rule of law, consolidation of judiciary, development of public and social institutes, good governance are the core of this Agreement. The efficient realization of these elements is of vital importance for our nation in order to implement successfully the envisaged reforms. It is exactly the development based on these shared values that ensures the long-lasting and sustainable development for any responsible member of the international community," the Armenian leader said shortly before the official signing ceremony scheduled for the evening. According to Sarkisian, the importance of the Agreement is not limited to just Armenia-EU relations. "Many of our international counterparts describe Armenia as a nation that brings various integration processes closer to each other, a nation that is led by the desire to reconcile and complement interests in the spirit of cooperation and cohabitation, and it is something that seriously obliges us to meet the expectation," he said. Sarkisian went on to say that Armenia is one of those EU partners that have managed to "almost fully implement commitments undertaken in 2015" under the Joint Declaration of the Riga Summit. "We believe that Armenia's determination in this process, as well as the determination of our EU partners will soon result in further bringing our societies closer together, for which, of course, launching of the visa liberalization dialogue would be of great significance," he said. In his statement, Sarkisian scolded his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev who, he claimed, "has voiced ill-grounded accusations against Armenia." "As much as the Azerbaijani side may try to distort and misinterpret the essence of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its peaceful settlement, the conflict has to be settled on the basis of three principles of international law: the non-use of force or threat of force, territorial integrity and the peoples' right to self-determination as proposed by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, which is the only structure vested with an international mandate," the Armenian president emphasized. "The position of the international community on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is reflected in the statements issued by the leaders of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair countries. In this context, any solution to the conflict without the exercise of Nagorno-Karabakh people's right to self-determination is simply impossible." Armenia and Azerbaijan have reportedly been at odds over language in the final declaration of the summit concerning Nagorno-Karabakh. One paragraph concerning conflicts in the region had been left open for the two South Caucasus neighbors to agree on compromise wording. EU diplomats told RFE/RL that they wanted neutral wording in the statement and to omit any mention of specific conflicts in the Eastern Partnership countries, citing squabbles between Baku and Yerevan over the 2015 declaration that delayed the summit by several hours. The current text of the final declaration reads: "The summit participants call for renewed efforts to promote the peaceful settlement of conflicts in the region on the basis of the principles and norms of international law." It adds that "the resolution of the conflicts, building trust and good neighborly relations are essential to economic and social development and cooperation." Final Declaration At EaP Summit Omits Mention Of Karabakh . Rikard Jozwiak BELGIUM -- A general view shows political leaders sitting at the round table for an EU Eastern Partnership summit with six eastern partner countries at the European Council in Brussels, European Union leaders and six former Soviet republics have swiftly agreed on a final joint declaration of their Eastern Partnership (EaP) summit in Brussels, avoiding a repeat of the squabbling between Armenia and Azerbaijan that triggered delays at the last summit two years ago. The final declaration, published on the European Council's website, does not mention any specific conflicts in the region, including the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh. But it states that the "summit participants remain deeply concerned about the continued violations of principles of international law in many parts of the region." It adds that they welcome "the EU's strengthened role in conflict resolution and confidence building in the framework or in support of existing agreed negotiating formats and processes, including through field presence, when appropriate." That language was enough to secure approval from Armenia and Azerbaijan. The two neighbors, who have been locked in a decades-long standoff over Nagorno-Karabakh, clashed over the final text of the declaration at the 2015 summit in Riga. The final text of this year's declaration features the same language as the Riga declaration concerning the potential future EU accession of Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine, each of which have signed Association Agreements with the 28-member bloc. It states that "the summit participants acknowledge the European aspirations and European choice of the partners concerned, as stated in the association agreements." The EU launched the Eastern Partnership in 2009 to promote economic integration and European values in six Eastern European and South Caucasus countries. The summit's main event will likely be the signing of an enhanced EU partnership deal with Armenia. That pact, however, omits free trade and is less ambitious than the Association Agreements secured by Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Like those three countries, Armenia previously negotiated an EU Association Agreement. But Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian walked away from the deal in 2013 under apparent pressure from Russia, and Armenia later joined the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). However, Sarkisian told RFE/RL's Armenian Service upon arrival in Brussels on November 23 that there was no contradiction between Yerevan's EU partnership and its EEU membership. "By signing this agreement we're saying that indeed it is possible to be a member of the Eurasian Economic Union and also be a member of the Eastern Partnership," Sarkisian said. He added that he has "never heard from any Russian leader, and especially from President Vladimir Putin, so much as a word of reproach about Armenia's cooperation with the EU." Press Review Armenian media focus on the signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between Armenia and the European Union scheduled at the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels on Friday. "Haykakan Zhamanak" stresses that "the signing of the document clearly meets Armenia's interests as it presents a serious counterbalance to Armenian-Russian relations that pose a threat to Armenian sovereignty." The paper at the same time warns that Armenia's failure to sign the document this time around will spell an end to its independent statehood and will reduce it to a "Russian province". "Zhamanak" reports that Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated at a news briefing on Thursday that Moscow treats the EU-Armenia agreement with respect. "It means or at least should mean a major guarantee that the agreement will be signed," the daily writes, adding that "however historic the new accord between Yerevan and Brussels may be, it won't change Armenia's life automatically, but the country should be able to benefit from the opportunities offered by it." In an interview with "Aravot" political analyst Suren Sargsian excludes the possibility that some wording in the new accord could make Armenia refuse to sign it. "There is no wording that cannot be rephrased so as to satisfy both or all parties," he explains. In this view, the analyst does not rule out some "ambiguous wording" that can be interpreted differently by the two sides. (Tigran Avetisian) Reprinted on ANN/Armenian News with permission from RFE/RL Copyright (c) 2017 Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, Inc. 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org