"Eastern Partnership" not promising EU membershipMay 2, 2009 - 18:00 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The prospect of Ukraine and other post-Soviet countries' membership in EU may become an actual issue in 5-10 years' time in case of the proper implementation of "Eastern Partnership" program, saidRuprecht Polents, member of Foreign Affairs Committee of Bundestag.According to him the initiative aims to establish maximum close ties among eastern neighbors. As noted by Mr. Polents, the program does not promise anything in terms of further prospects of membership. "At the same time, the fact remains that after the EU expansion in 2004, the community is simply unable to admit new members. Instead, we offer Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova and Belarus such programs that may facilitate discussions over membership issues in future," Deutsche Welle quoted Polents as saying. The European Commission adopted the "Eastern Partnership" program on December 3, 2008. The founding summit will take place in Prague on May the 7th. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | India wants Armenia’s proposals on use of Chabahar port India is expecting proposals from Armenia regarding the use of Chabahar port in Iran, Indian ambassador says. EU welcomes Armenia-Azerbaijan “progress” The EU has welcomed “progress” made in the framework of the Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation process. Belarus opposition leader slams Lukashenko for Karabakh trip Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has harshly criticized the visit of Lukashenko to Karabakh. Mkhitaryan raises arrest of former Karabakh leaders in Azerbaijan Inter Milan star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has shared a news story about the extension of the arrest of former Karabakh leaders. |