EU Commissioner Potocnik in South Caucasus

1- PRIME MINISTER, EU COMMISSIONER DISCUSS NEW NEIGHBORHOOD POLICY
Armenpress, Yerevan, 07/08/04

Armenian prime minister Andranik Margarian conferred today with Janez Potocnik, a junior commissioner for a new EU member state, Slovenia, who works with the enlargement commissioner, Guenter Verheugen. The latter is charge of the EU's "new neighborhood" program, which offers closer ties to some EU neighbors. Potocnik is touring the South Caucasus countries to emphasize the EU's renewed interest in these three countries.

Prime minister Margarian was quoted by the government's press office as saying that the visit is important in the context of EU's New Neighborhood Policy, extended recently to the three South Caucasian countries.

Margarian reiterated Armenia's willingness to build its relationships with Europe based on its values and fundamental principles, which he said stem from Armenians' interests. He said a special task force was set up to develop the National Plan of Actions for implementation of Partnership and cooperation
Agreement between Armenia and the EU.

Potocnik said: "The next steps are to consider the possibility of setting up a so-called action plan with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia - setting the reform priorities they should address. And, on our side, offering an approximation with the European Union." That, according to him, could eventually -- but in the longer term -- lead very far toward a share in the internal market, for instance, or alignment with several EU policies,
like environment or energy and transport networks." He said the EU is
prepared to assist these countries to reform all sectors of life.

Both sides agreed also that unless the regional conflicts are resolved no complete integration with Europe is possible, adding also that establishment of normal relations among all the countries of region will give a substantial boost to economy and trade development.
__________________________________________________

EU COMMISSIONER TOURS SOUTH CAUCASUS TO EXPLAIN 'NEW NEIGHBOURHOOD' POLICY
By Ahto Lobjakas, RFE/RL Caucasus, 05/07/2004

Janez Potocnik, a junior EU commissioner working with enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen, today [July 5] begins a four-day tour of the South Caucasus. He will meet the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and
Georgia to talk about the EU's recent decision to include the three countries in its "new neighborhood" policy.

Brussels, 5 July 2004 (RFE/RL) -- Janez Potocnik is a junior Commissioner. But he is by far the highest-ranking EU official to tour the South Caucasus region in recent years.

As a commissioner for a new EU member state, Slovenia, Potocnik works with the enlargement commissioner, Guenter Verheugen. Verheugen is in charge of the EU's "new neighborhood" program, which offers closer ties to some EU neighbors.

Although not directly responsible for the new neighborhood program, Potocnik fully represents the views of the European Commission.

He will spend this week traveling to Georgia (5-6 July), Azerbaijan (6-7 July), and Armenia (7-8 July). Potocnik's visit will emphasize the EU's renewed nterest in those three countries. Following Georgia's "Rose Revolution" last fear, the EU was quick to bring them into the new neighborhood policy. The formal offer was finalized on 14 June.

Jean-Christophe Filori is a European Commission spokesman. He explained to RFE/RL today what the offer will mean for the three countries: "The next steps are to consider the possibility of setting up a so-called action plan with those three countries -- setting the [reform] priorities they should address. And, on our side, offering an approximation with the European Union. That, as you know, could eventually -- but in the longer term -- lead very far toward a share in the internal market, for instance, or [alignment] with several EU policies, like environment or [energy and transport] networks."

Filori said Potocnik will tell the three South Caucasus governments that they could eventually have a voice in Europe.

Potocnik will not offer precise details of the financial aid likely to accompany new neighborhood membership. EU member states are still debating the contents of the bloc's next budget for the years 2007-2013.

But EU officials say Potocnik will reiterate the bloc's willingness to take a more active approach to the region's many conflicts. The bloc will not act as a mediator. But it will use incentives inherent in closer ties to foster compromise.

Filori says this strategy has proved successful elsewhere: "Take, for instance, the example of Romania and Hungary, the issue of the Hungarian minority. Through a very early and intense political dialogue, we [found] a solution. And we really hope that with this prospect of getting closer to the European Union we will also have the possibility of a much better political dialogue with [the South Caucasus] countries. "The EU promotes its new neighborhood policy as distinct from bloc membership but offering many of the same benefits".

Filori said the EU is not likely to discuss anytime soon a further EU expansion that would bring countries like Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan
into the bloc: "We can never say never, of course -- we will have to see. What we're trying to do now is to set the prospect for the foreseeable future. And in the foreseeable future, we have an approach allowing for much closer involvement of those countries in Europe, and a much closer involvement of the EU in those countries -- much closer relations. It would be a first step. Let's seize this offer first."The EU has made it clear that it will consider developing relations with the three countries on the basis of individual merit. So far, Georgia has emerged as a clear leader.

Links:
www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2004/07/09d8d792-368f-49b9-b01e-80fa707ebb65.html