Ilves: Eastern partners cannot «ride in two cabs at once»

Photo: Mihkel Maripuu / Postimees

The countries in the European Union's Eastern Partnership program cannot seek a free trade deal with the EU and join the Russia-led Customs Union at the same time, Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves says.

«Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia have by now opted for Europe. In olden times they said you cannot sit on two horses at once, now we might say you cannot ride in two cabs at once: you cannot wish for a free trade agreement with the EU and at the same time join the Customs Union. That's not possible,» Ilves said in an interview with BNS adding that this is the reason why the EU has abandoned a free trade deal with Armenia.

Ilves acknowledged that Armenia was under very strong economic and trade pressure from Russia. «Estonia considers such pressure to be unacceptable. European countries of the 21st century do not interact with each other in this manner, do not threaten and extort political choices the way it was done before World War II. Therefore the EU supports Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in every way so they can make their decisions on belonging to international associations independently,» he said.

The Eastern Partnership countries can be their own help in the first place, the president said. «The EU for its part will extend a hand in partnership and always open its door to neighbors who demonstrate their commitment to democracy, the rule of law, freedom of speech and market economy. Estonia has known this already for 20 years from its own association agreement,» Ilves said.

In November an Eastern Partnership summit will be held in Vilnius at which an association and free trade area agreement with Ukraine is expected to be signed and similar agreements with Georgia and Moldova initialed.