German Chancellor Angela Merkel addressed the parliament on the eve of her departure to Riga for the Eastern Partnership (EaP) Summit saying among the six countries in the eastern partnership, there are "vastly different expectations from the various countries." Merkel said that Germany, for example, "respects Armenia's point-of-view" and that "it was up to Belarus to put in place the necessary conditions" for closer cooperation with the EU, according to Deutsche Welle.
She said German respect also stand of Azerbaijan that does not seek EU membership so far and does not see itself in the EEU either. Merkel said Germany is ready to continue the bilateral cooperation with
Belarus despite evident discrepancies. EaP members are Armenia, Azerbaijan,. Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.