Monday, November 23, 2009

Russian President Dmitri Medvedev: E.U.'s Eastern Partnership is harmless, but pointless

RIA Novosti, a Russian news agency, recently posted a news story in which it quotes President Dmitri Medvedev as saying that the European Union's Eastern Partnership is harmless, but pointless.

Mr. Medevedev stated: "Needless to say, if they discuss anti-Russian scenarios, I as president will not like that. But I hope that our partners will refrain from this. Otherwise, let them discuss whatever they want."

The European Union started the Eastern Partnership program as an attempt to bring six non-E.U. members closer to European standards. These countries include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Moldovan authorities and analysts have occasionally expressed their disagreement with the country's inclusion in the group of six because Chisinau has sought a more privileged relationship with the E.U. that would involve a clearer schedule for integration. Those objections seem to have subsided, however.

Mr. Medvedev's statements also come at a time when the new Moldovan Government has been visibly more pro-Western than the previous Communist one, and as Russia has been mulling over whether it will give support to the new authorities or not.

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