June 26, 2009 - 18:53 AMT
"Eastern Partnership" - a political and economic project
Eastern Partnership project enables member states to sign associate membership agreement, but such status cannot grow into full membership, Alexander Duleba, Head of Foreign Policy Association centre, announced in Yerevan during a press-conference devoted to "Eastern Partnership and Prospects for Democracy Building in South Caucasus". The program, according to him, pursues political goals which may later develop into economic projects. "The action plan submitted by Poland and Sweden is a political document and not a treaty. However, there are prospects for creating a European labor market. But that project too, should apply only to EU member states. "Eastern Partnership is aimed at diversification of gas pipelines to Europe and should be the first step towards creating a European Economic Area," Duleba said, adding that South Caucasian countries, Ukraine, Belarus and Moldova are required to modernize their economy.