In Mr. Oskanyan's opinion, all countries of the South Caucasus are seeking to integrate into the European Union. "We really want to become part of the union to live side-by side with the other twenty-five EU member states, keeping in mind that we still have a long way to go," he pointed out.
To the Armenians, integration into the EU is of particular importance, as they see it as a return to the ancestral civilization from where their nation emerged, Mr. Oskanyan said.
Speaking of the prospect of Turkey's accession, the Armenian Foreign Minister said it was a universally recognized fact that that country could not join the European Union right away as it falls short of the EU standards. It will take the Turks ten to fifteen years to effect reforms that will enable them to meet admission requirements.
