“In the framework of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and cooperation with EU, Armenia will acquire a situation where the goods of domestic production with have international standards, and we will have labs to develop the level of our products so that they will be competitive in the European markets. By this, we will secure ourselves from all the phenomena that based on different political considerations, be RF, or any other country, will try to block the road of Armenian goods, or to create whatever obstacles”, – expressed his opinion Tevan Poghosyan, member of RA NA Economic Relations Committee, MP of “Heritage” faction, in the interview with Aravot.am.
The problem is that last week Russia’s Federal Customs Service decided to include the whole products imported from Ukraine in the “risk group” immediately and without warning, which means that, henceforth, Russian customs officers are going to totally and thoroughly examine Ukrainian products, and before giving a green light to them, they will first demand to unload everything, and then reload. Analysts and politicians believe that with this move official Moscow punishes Ukraine to avoid joining the Customs Union proposed by RF President and to go to Europe. We inquired from Mr. Poghosyan whether after initialing the EU Association Agreement in November, Armenia would be expected of such sanctions.
Our interlocutor believes that with deepening the relations with Europe, Armenian manufacturers will have to produce such quality product that would not be possible to use for a variety of political purposes. Tevan Poghosyan does not exclude the possibility of having similar problems, political pressures against Armenia before initialing the agreement.” We must be ready for them, but guided entirely by our own interests. Any kind of such pressure will last shortly, and especially will promote deterioration of relationship, politically. Therefore, RF has to realize itself that any kind of such move will not convey a positive impulse to the Armenian-Russian relations. And the Armenian-Russian relations are not conditioned only by the Armenian side. RF should also do everything to keep the relationship positive and on high-level, because such games between strategic partners can not lead to positive results.”
Our interlocutor notes that it would not be beneficial to RF in terms of its market to obstacle the access of Armenian products liked by Russian consumers to its market, because the consumers will start acquiring them illegally.
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Nelly Grigoryan
