Author: Kalantarian Kevo

LE PRESIDENT DU PARLEMENT DEVRAIT ORCHESTRER LA CAMPAGNE DE SERGE SARKISSIAN
Laetitia

armenews.com
mercredi 5 decembre 2012

Le president du Parlement Hovik Abrahamian a declare mardi 4 decembre
2012 qu’il va gerer la campagne du president Serge Sarkissian pour la
prochaine election presidentielle et pourrait a nouveau demissionner de
sa fonction a cette occasion. Abrahamian est egalement vice-president
du Parti Republicain d’Armenie (HHK). La dernière nomination souligne
son influence politique durable.

L’ancien vice-premier ministre a demissionne en tant que president
du Parlement en novembre l’annee dernière lorsqu’il a annonce qu’il
allait lancer la campagne de 2012 lors des elections parlementaires
en mai. Abrahamian a egalement precise qu’il veillera a ce que Mikael
Minassian, repute pour etre proche de Serge Sarkissian, est egalement
très implique dans la campagne de reelection du president. Certains
commentateurs locaux ont specule que sa tâche principale est
de contrôler si Abrahamian n’aidera pas secrètement le parti de
Tsarukian. Abrahamian nie avoir des liens avec le parti de Tsakurian.

Les dirigeants de l’opposition ont longtemps accuse Abrahamian d’etre
un des principaux architectes de la fraude electorale en Armenie. Ils
refusent de reconnaître la legitimite de Sarkissian et les victoires
electorales du HHK. Abrahamian a insiste mardi sur le fait que les
autorites armeniennes feront de leur mieux pour s’assurer que l’
election presidentielle soit libre, juste et transparente.

mercredi 5 decembre 2012, Laetitia ©armenews.com

AZERBAIJANI RULING PARTY DENIES INFORMATION ON PROTOCOL SIGNED WITH ARMENIA

Trend
Dec 4 2012
Azerbaijan

The ruling New Azerbaijan Party has called cooperation with any
Armenian party a provocation.

The representatives of the ruling party participated in the event held
in St. Petersburg, but did not sign any document, Deputy Executive
Secretary of the ruling party Mubariz Gurbanli told Trend today.

A number of Armenian media reported that the representatives of the
“United Russia” party, the Armenian Republican Party, the Kazakh
People’s Democratic Party “Nur Otan” and ruling New Azerbaijan Party
signed a cooperation protocol within the forum “Eurasian integration
in the XXI Century”, held in St. Petersburg on Dec. 3.

ABOUT RESTORATION OF TRANS-CAUCASIAN RAILWAY

The Messenger
Dec 4 2012
Georgia

During the Soviet Union, there were two railway lines connecting
Russia with the S. Caucasus. One ran through Azerbaijan and the
other through Georgia along the Black Sea coast and finally ending
up in Armenia. In fact this railway entailed almost the entire South
Caucasus. But in the 1990s, both routes were closed down because of
the hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan and inside Georgia due
to the Russian-inspired conflict in the separatist oriented Abkhazia.

For more than 20 years these lines have been cut. Armenia in
particular is in desperate need of restoration of the railway links
with Russia. These two countries are strategic partners, but there is
no land connection between two countries. Only direct communication
can be established by air, but even this is problematic, because it
makes transportation of goods very expensive and there is always threat
that the countries around Armenia could block and close the air-space
for such flights. Armenia so far is exercising only one route of
land connection with Russia and this is automobile transport through
Georgia. But the railway connection is discussed by people from time
to time. One thing is the rehabilitation of the existing railways
along the Black Sea coast, passing Abkhazian territory and coming
into Georgia’s mainland and further to Armenia. There are new ways
possible of constructing a trans-Caucasian railway, directly passing
from Russia into Georgia, though it is a very expensive project which
will need much financial expenditure and technical efforts.

MODERNIZATION OF YEREVAN METRO IS EBRD’S ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS

Mediamax
Dec 4 2012
Armenia

Yerevan/Mediamax/. Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Traian Hristea
and head of the Yerevan Office of the European Bank for Reconstruction
and Development (EBRD) Valeriu Razlog visited the stations of “Andranik
Zoravar”, “Republic Square” and “Yeritasardakan” of the Yerevan Metro
where they got acquainted with the results of the program of Yerevan
Metro reconstruction program.

Director of the Yerevan Metro Paylak Yayloyan stated that during the
first phase of the program implemented by the EBRD, EU and European
Investment Bank, EUR15mln was invested. The funds were meant for
enhancement of security and energetic efficiency of the Yerevan Metro,
Mediamax reports.

“Owing to the investments, we repaired the trains, fully updated
the high-voltage cables and modernized the pomp stations. As of now,
the first phase of the program is completed by 70%”, said the head
of the Metro.

He stressed that the program doesn’t envisage opening of new stations.

Paylak Yayloyan also said that owing to the effective use of funds
in the first phase of the program, they managed to upgrade 10 coaches.

The second phase of the program started in August 2012 and additional
EUR15mln was allocated for it. EBRD issued a loan at EUR5mln which will
be co-funded by the credit tranche of the European Investment bank at
EUR5mln and investment grant (EUR5mln) of the European Neighborhood
Instrument till the end of 2012.

Traian Hristea noted that the results of the works are tangible.

“However, we should do more so as the citizens could feel the result of
the program. I think we should work out a general transport strategy
which would link the Metro to other transport means, particularly
with the bus stops”, said the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia.

Head of the EBRD Yerevan Office Valeriu Razlog was happy to note in
his turn that the Yerevan Metro managed to save considerable funds. “I
can say that it’s one of the most successful programs implemented by
the EBRD in Armenia”, concluded Valeriu Razlog.

AZERBAIJANI POLITICAL FIGURE DOESN’T AGREE THAT IN NKR ISSUE TIME WORKS IN FAVOR OF AZERBAIJAN

19:33, 4 December, 2012

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS: Arif Hacılı Chief of Staff of
“Musavat” party doesn’t agree with his government’s statement that
in NKR issue time works in favor of Azerbaijan. Hacılı finds that
it is just one of the government’s campaign methods. As reports
Armenpress this was noted by Arif Hacılı during the interview with
the journalist of “Turan” news agency from Washington.

“Ten years ago, when I was in USA, everybody was interested in
NKR conflict. At that time there was a special department on NKR
conflict in the U.S. Department of State. But now all U.S attention is
centralized at Iran,” he complained. Hacılı said that Washington’s
priorities over Azerbaijan remained the same, democracy, energy
carriers and security. “But unfortunately the interest of Washington
concerning Azerbaijan has significantly reduced” he said.

“The goal of Hacılı’s visit to USA is to have some discussions on
the upcoming 2013 presidential elections in Azerbaijan” “Turan” writes.

LES RECETTES FISCALES DE L’INDUSTRIE EN HAUSSE
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 3 decembre 2012

Les recettes fiscales en provenance des secteurs de l’industrie, du
commerce, du tourisme et des nouvelles technologies ont atteint 199
milliards de drams entre janvier et octobre 2012, soit une hausse de
15 % compare a 2011 a annonce le Ministre de l’Economie Tigran Davtyan.

Selon lui, les charges sociales se sont elevees a 44,5 milliards de
drams en hausse de 5,7 %.

” L’activite economique est en hausse de 7,2 % au cours des 10
premiers mois ; specifiquement, la croissance industrielle a ete
de 10 %, le tourisme de 8,5 %, les services de 11 % ” a-t-il dit en
presentant la croissance des secteurs qui sont geres par le Ministère
de l’Economie d’Armenie.

mardi 4 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

UNE COUR ARMENIENNE CONDAMNE UN ROUMAIN A 9 ANS DE PRISON POUR BLANCHISSAGE D’ARGENT ET VOL
Stephane

armenews.com
lundi 3 decembre 2012

La cour de première instance de Kentron et Marash a Erevan a condamne
un citoyen roumain, Dragosu Botezatu, a une peine de prison de 9 ans
pour le vol de 29,8 millions de drams (73000 $) et leur blanchissage
en utilisant frauduleusement des cartes bancaires.

Selon l’acte d’accusation, Dragos Ionuts Botezatu est arrive en
août 2009 en Armenie avec de fausses cartes bancaires et a vole 29,8
millions de drams dans des distributeurs de quatre banques en Armenie.

M.Botezatu a vire l’argent au Royaume-Uni.

mardi 4 decembre 2012, Stephane ©armenews.com

WINNING MOVE: CHESS REIGNS AS KINGLY PURSUIT IN ARMENIA

Wall Street Journal
Dec 4 2012
NY

No One Is Bored With Board Game in Nation That Adores Grandmasters.

YEREVAN, Armenia-Reporters stake out Tigran Petrosian’s home. Fans
seek his autograph. His image is splashed across magazine covers,
and his youthful face beams from posters on teenagers’ walls.

The sturdy 28-year-old isn’t a star athlete or a movie star. He is
a chess grandmaster. In this chess-crazy country, that makes him a
king among pawns.

“Chess here is like soccer in Brazil or football in America,” Mr.

Petrosian said over coffee at the Yerevan Chess Academy ahead of
a concert to honor the country’s top players. The concert featured
musicians and singers performing in front of 10-foot-high chess boards
while the audience clapped rapturously.

Mr. Petrosian-whose father named him Tigran after a former chess
champion with the same surname-is one of a legion of top chess players
that have catapulted this poor nation of three million into world
beaters on the 64-square board. In September, he was part of the
five-man squad that claimed Armenia’s second consecutive gold medal
at the World Chess Olympiad.

Being good in chess carries big benefits in Armenia. Top players say
they struggle to be allowed to pay for gasoline or parking. Restaurant
bills sometimes never materialize when they go out to eat.

“Some girls giggle when they see us on the streets and some even
give me presents,” says 30-year-old Levon Aronian, Armenia’s No. 1
player and the second-ranked player in the world. “Most of us are
just regular nerds, so it’s quite a lot to get used to. I’ve changed
the way I dress for photo shoots but that’s all.”

Armenia’s veneration of its chess players recalls a bygone era when
the game produced a series of global household names.

In a Cold War grudge match that captivated audiences world-wide,
American Bobby Fischer in 1972 broke Soviet dominance by beating
champion Boris Spassky. Chess is still popular across much of the
former Soviet Union, a legacy of Moscow’s patronage of a game it said
demonstrated its intellectual superiority over the West.

But whereas chess players are on their own in many Soviet spinoffs,
they still have full state support in Armenia. The country’s president,
Serzh Sargsyan, also is the president of the Armenian Chess Federation.

In September 2011, his government passed legislation that made chess
compulsory in schools. Promising players get free training at elite
chess academies. The state pays for children to play in foreign
championships and pays a salary to all grandmasters.

Enlarge Image

CloseTigran Petrosian .Mr. Sargsyan hailed a “golden age” for Armenian
chess in a speech earlier this year. “It continues to inspire our
society with belief in its own strength and self-confidence,” he said.

Armenia’s love affair with the game is less than half a century old.

The country caught the chess bug on May 20, 1963, when 33-year-old
Tigran Petrosian, no relation to the current player, dethroned
reigning world champion Mikhail Botvinnik, a Soviet, over a grinding
24-game match.

Nicknamed “Iron Tigran” because of his impenetrable defense, Mr.

Petrosian’s victory made him a national hero. Thousands of families
named their children Tigran in his honor.

“In the U.S., everyone can remember where they were when President
Kennedy was killed. In Armenia, everyone can remember where they were
when Petrosian won that championship,” said Aram Hajian, board member
of the Chess Academy of Armenia.

Nowadays, chess fever starts young in the country.

At the Patriarch Vasgen elementary school in Yerevan’s northern
suburbs, aspiring grandmasters daily squeeze into the chess room:
a makeshift shrine adorned with the sober faces of former champions
and half a dozen huge magnetic boards showcasing the game’s most
celebrated offensive and defensive plays.

All boards, pieces and textbooks are provided by the government. The
children switch between theory and practice and sit through a written
test every two months. The teacher, Marina Kamalyan, a frizzy-haired
chess evangelist who plays online late most nights, insists on total
dedication from the pupils.

“Chess is a real passion that is a metaphor for life. Education is a
very important part of our mentality in Armenia, and I want to pass
on this passion to the children,” Mrs. Kamalyan said as she moved
white pieces into an unassailable position on one of the class’s
wall-mounted magnetic boards.

Many of these children are already veterans, but they are determined
to join Armenia’s top players as world beaters.

“I want to be world champion. Grandmaster is not good enough,” says
9-year-old Yervan Davtyan, after thrashing a reporter in a game
lasting less than 15 minutes.

“I taught my mother how to play better, but I didn’t show her all the
secrets because I want to be the best,” adds 8-year-old Julia Hakobyan.

ARMENIA: TWO NEW IMPRISONMENTS AS STRASBOURG AGAIN FINES GOVERNMENT

Forum 18
Dec 3 2012
Norway

By Felix Corley, Forum 18 News Service

Two young men who refused military service and military-controlled
alternative service were imprisoned in November, bringing the current
total to 31, all of them Jehovah’s Witnesses, Forum 18 News Service
has learnt. Anania Grigoryan and Artsrun Khachatryan were sentenced
in the summer, but were imprisoned only after their appeals failed. A
further 15 already convicted are likely to be imprisoned if their
appeals fail. The new imprisonments come as Armenia has been fined
for the fourth time by the Strasbourg-based European Court of Human
Rights in a conscientious objection-related case. For the first time
in such cases, Armenia’s European Court Judge, Alvina Gyulumyan, did
not dissent from the judgment. A judge in Yerevan today (3 December)
postponed the handing down of a sentence in the criminal trial of
conscientious objector Vartkes Sahakyan, saying he needed time to
study the latest Strasbourg judgment.

A judge has today (3 December) postponed the handing down of a sentence
in the criminal trial of conscientious objector Vartkes Sahakyan,
Jehovah’s Witnesses told Forum 18 News Service. Judge David Balayan
said he was postponing the decision to allow him time to study the
latest finding against Armenia in the European Court of Human Rights
(ECtHR) on conscientious objector cases. Yet despite the latest ECtHR
fine imposed on the Armenian government, prosecutions continue.

Two further conscientious objectors were imprisoned in November after
losing their second appeals, bringing the number of prisoners to 31.

All are serving sentences of two to three years’ imprisonment. A
further 15 already convicted are likely to be imprisoned if their
appeals fail.

Judge Balayan of Davatashen-Ajapnyak Court in the north of the
capital Yerevan told Sahakyan that he was postponing his verdict in
the case until he had a chance to read the 27 November ECtHR judgment
in Armenian translation.

On 27 November, the Strasbourg-based ECtHR – in its fourth decision
against Armenia in conscientious objector cases – found that Armenia
had violated the rights of 17 Jehovah’s Witness conscientious
objectors. Forum 18 notes that for the first time in such cases,
Armenia’s European Court Judge, Alvina Gyulumyan, did not dissent
from the judgment.

Jehovah’s Witnesses told Forum 18 that every prisoner convicted
since the ECtHR’s landmark July 2011 judgment in favour of former
conscientious objector prisoner Vahan Bayatyan will lodge a similar
case to Strasbourg. Fourteen have already done so, with a further
ten preparing applications.

“Nothing else has moved the Armenian government to improve the
situation, so we are hoping repeated European Court judgments will,”
one Jehovah’s Witness who was involved in the recent case told Forum
18 on 3 December.

No civilian alternative service

Although Armenia committed itself on joining the Council of Europe
to introduce a civilian, non-military alternative service by January
2004, it failed to do so. The Alternative Service Law – adopted
in 2003 and amended in 2004 and 2006 – leaves alternative service
under Defence Ministry oversight, making it unacceptable for most
conscientious objectors.

Like all the other Jehovah’s Witness conscientious objectors, Sahakyan
is on trial under Criminal Code Article 327, Part 1, which punishes
evasion of the call-up to military or alternative service. The
maximum sentence under this article was increased to three years’
imprisonment in December 2005.

Armenia has repeatedly claimed that the current situation is in
full compliance with its international human rights commitments. On
31 January 2012, in response to a joint letter of concern over
imprisoned conscientious objectors from four United Nations human
rights rapporteurs, the Armenian authorities insisted to the United
Nations that “Armenia has fully complied with its commitments within
three years of accession as promised”. It dismissed the ECtHR findings
against it.

However, Armenia’s failure to free imprisoned conscientious objectors
and introduce a genuinely civilian alternative to military service
has repeatedly been condemned by international organisations of
which the country is a member. In 2012 alone, condemnation came from
the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and the
United Nations Human Rights Committee (see F18News 20 September 2012
).

Imprisonment after appeal

Armenia has changed its policy this year, after discussions with
Jehovah’s Witnesses representatives. It now imprisons conscientious
objectors only after both their appeals fail (in the Appeal Court
and the Cassation Court), not after criminal cases are instituted
and not after individuals are convicted in a lower court. Forum 18
notes that this has brought down the number of prisoners from about
70 at any one time until late 2011 to 31 today. However, the number
of conscientious objectors convicted and sentenced under Criminal
Code Article 327, Part 1 is rising. Should their appeals fail it is
likely they will be imprisoned.

The two latest prisoners – Anania Grigoryan (who received a 24-month
sentence on 28 June) and Artsrun Khachatryan (who received a 30-month
sentence on 10 July) – were both imprisoned after losing their cases
at the Appeal Court and Cassation Court. Grigoryan was imprisoned
at Nubarashen prison near Yerevan on 15 November. Khachatryan was
imprisoned in the same prison on 26 November.

The other 29 prisoners are being held at the prisons in Erebuni in
Yerevan and Kosh near Ashtarak in western Armenia.

Of the 15 young men already convicted but awaiting appeal hearings,
two were sentenced in November. Martiros Yesayan received a 30-month
sentence on 8 November. Mushegh Galstyan received a two-year sentence
on 15 November.

Latest Strasbourg judgment

The ECtHR issued its latest judgment on 27 November in the case of
Khachatryan and Others v. Armenia (application no. 23978/06). Nineteen
Jehovah’s Witnesses who accepted the government’s alternative service
in 2004 changed their minds and left their service in May and June
2005 after realising they were under military control, thus offending
their consciences. Criminal proceedings were brought against them and
seventeen were held in detention (the other two had to sign statements
not to leave the area). Although charges were later dropped and they
were released after several months, they complained that they had been
detained for an act which had not constituted an offence at the time.

In its judgment, the ECtHR ruled in favour of 17 of the 19, finding
that their right to liberty and security, as well as their right to
compensation for unlawful detention had been violated. The 17 were
each awarded 6,000 Euros (3 million Armenian Drams, 45,000 Norwegian
Kroner or 8,000 US Dollars) compensation from the Armenian government.

The government was also required to pay a total of 10,000 Euros in
costs for all the applicants. Unless either side appeal against the
ruling, it will become final three months after it was handed down
().

“No official position” from Human Rights Ombudsperson

Tatevik Khachatryan, the official in the office of Armenia’s Human
Rights Ombudsperson who handles conscientious objection issues,
told Forum 18 on 3 November that Ombudsperson Karen Andreasyan holds
“no official position” on the continued imprisonment of conscientious
objectors.

Khachatryan could not recall any public statement by Andreasyan on
the issue. “He decides what he will speak out on,” she told Forum 18.

She repeatedly refused to say whether the Ombudsperson believes that
the current conscientious objector prisoners should or should not
be imprisoned.

However, she denied that this meant Andreasyan has done nothing to
protect the rights of imprisoned conscientious objectors. “He received
many individual complaints on this and has responded to them all
properly,” Khachatryan insisted. “He has also met Jehovah’s Witness
representatives and tried to mediate with government officials.”

Khachatryan added that Andreasyan has given the government his comments
on the proposed amendments to the Alternative Service Law.

However, she repeatedly refused to say whether the Ombudsperson
believes the current Law does or does not meet Armenia’s international
human rights commitments.

“Vague” draft amendments

The Justice Ministry has long been drafting amendments to the
Alternative Service Law, with input from the Defence Ministry and
other state agencies. The 2011 draft amendments were the subject of
two highly critical legal opinions – by the Organisation for Security
and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in September 2011 and the Council
of Europe’s Venice Commission in December 2011 (see F18News 1 February
2012 ).

The Justice Ministry later changed the proposed amendments, giving a
new draft to various Armenian organisations in October 2012. Article
14, Part 2 of the draft amendments reads: “Supervision of performance
and organisation of alternative labour service is carried out by
corresponding state government bodies empowered by the Republic of
Armenia.” Jehovah’s Witnesses complain that this crucial question for
them – will the Defence Ministry have any control over alternative
labour service – thus remains unresolved.

The draft amendments seen by Forum 18 would reduce by six months
the term for those doing “alternative labour service” to 36 months –
compared to 30 months for non-combat military service and two years for
military service. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses say the length is less
of a concern. “What is crucial for us is whether the military control
the alternative service, and whether the individual is confined to
the place of service or not,” one Jehovah’s Witness told Forum 18
from Yerevan on 3 December. “The draft is vague.”

Lt-Col. Sedrak Sedrakian, the head of the legal department of the
Defence Ministry, said that the draft amendments are in the hands of
First Deputy Justice Minister Grigor Muradian. “They asked our views
and we gave them,” he told Forum 18 from Yerevan on 3 December. “We
wrote that we’re not against the amendments, and gave our comments.”

Lt-Col. Sedrakian insisted that the alternative labour service will
be under the supervision not of the Defence Ministry but the Health
and Social Protection Ministries. However, Forum 18 could not find
such a provision on the draft amendments it has seen.

Forum 18 was unable to reach anyone at the Justice Ministry in Yerevan
on 3 December prepared to comment on the draft amendments or the
continued imprisonment of conscientious objectors.

Gevorg Kostanyan, the Armenian government agent to the ECtHR who is
the country’s military prosecutor, was unavailable each time Forum
18 called on 3 December. His assistant took Forum 18’s number but he
did not call back. (END)

BARROSO TAKES STOCK OF EU-ARMENIA RELATIONS IN YEREVAN

ENPI
Dec 3 2012
Eu

The EU and Armenia are building a strong relationship based on
political association, economic integration and deeper people-to-people
contacts, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has
said following his meeting in Yerevan with President Serzh Sargsyan
of Armenia.

“Democratic institutions, independence of the judiciary, political
pluralism, media freedom and protection of fundamental rights and
freedoms are the lifeblood of our partnership,” Barroso stressed,
adding this had been his key message in the meetings with Armenia’s
political leaders, parliamentarians and civil society.

The European Commission President hailed progress in the negotiations
on the Association Agreement (including a Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Area), due to be concluded in time of the Eastern Partnership
Summit in Vilnius in November 2013.

Barroso also cited headway in the Mobility dialogue, with the expected
signature of the Visa Facilitation Agreement on 17 December, followed,
at a later date, by the signature of the Readmission Agreement.

He also commended Armenia for the good conduct of the Parliamentary
elections in May 2012, saying he was reassured by the President’s
personal commitment to address the shortcomings raised by the
OSCE/ODIHR mission.

The EU fully recognizes Armenia’s commitment to reforms and the
efforts being made, said Barroso, adding the EU was determined to
support Armenia, in particular by stepping up its assistance to the
country this year with an additional ~@15 million for an existing
project on the reform of the Judiciary and for an on-going operation
on Vocational and Education Training.

President Barroso stressed the EU’s commitment to peace and
regional stability, in particular through efforts to resolve the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict in the framework of the Minsk Group,
and reiterated the EU’s readiness “to provide enhanced support for
confidence building measures if the parties so wish.”

In Yerevan, President Barroso said the EU attached great importance to
Armenia as a country and to the Eastern neighbourhood as a whole. He
told an audience at the National Manuscript Museum in Yerevan that the
EU and Armenia were discussing the possibility of replacing the ENP
Action Plan with an ‘Association Agenda’ – “a more focused tool which
will prepare the road for the implementation of our new Agreement.”

In his speech, President Barroso focused on the role of civil society
in the reform process. He said the EU had developed a new instrument –
the Neighbourhood Civil Society Facility – “to provide additional grant
support and encourage concrete actions from civil society.” He also
voiced hope that the EU’s support to NGOs will continue through the
European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights and through thematic
programmes for non-state actors, as well as other EU instruments.

“But beyond the instruments what is important to note here is the
political will – the political commitment to work together with your
country. We believe that Armenia is a European country, that you
belong to the European family of nations and that we have everything
to gain from working even closer,” Barroso said.

The President hailed the Armenian government’s policy of getting “as
close to the European Union as the European Union will let us,” adding:
“In terms of sharing our values, of being a part of our internal
market we want you to be very close indeed.” (EU Neighbourhood Info)