Papoulias: Country imposing blockade should not join EU

It is unacceptable that a country imposing blockade and economic isolation on its neighbors seeks EU membership, Greek President Karolos Papoulias said in his speech at the official dinner in honor of President Serzh Sargsyan and Mrs. Rita Sargsyan Tuesday, January 18.

“Mr. President, the European Union pays special attention to the Caucasus region. In this context, Greece supports development of EU relations with Armenia. Armenia is a country having a culture and traditions, historical European roots, Armenia is a European country,” aysor.am correspondent quoted Karolos Papoulias as saying.

The Greek President also touched upon the Armenian-Turkish relations.

“We attentively follow the rapprochement process with neighboring Turkey,” Papoulias said. “Normalization of the relations and opening the borders would determine reliability of Turkey’s policy. It is unacceptable that a country seeking EU membership closes the borders with its neighbors, imposes a blockade and economic isolation.”