In the opinion of Gagik Makaryan, the EU has made huge expenses on Armenia, is it going to waste?
Although, yesterday, RA President announced in Moscow that Armenia is intended to join the Customs Union, nevertheless, the EU Association Agreement will be initialed. Such opinion was expressed by the Chairman of the Republican Union of Employers Gagik Makaryan in the interview with “Aravot”. The statement on joining the Customs Unions was followed by the response of EU officials. In particular, the EU’s presiding country, Foreign Minister of Lithuania Linas Linkevičius stated,- “Joining the Customs Union offered by Russia, Armenia lost its opportunity to join the European Union Free Trade Area. We respect any decision adopted by the states, but they can not enter the two structures at a time, as they have different from each other customs requirements.”
“These statements are adequate to the situation, because they could not say, we welcome, never mind that we are going to the Customs Union, to keep certain effect they were to express their discontent, and also make a little harsh statement to try to keep us in the frames”,- the EU, so to speak, closing the entrance doors in front of us, said Gagik Makaryan about the statement of the EU officials, pointing,- “Those statements contained some a restrictive meaning, I think, in any event, we will be signing the Association Agreement, because they could not remain silent, nor to praise. Based on their problems and considering their support and already made expenditures, the signing will take place.”
Mr. Makaryan believes that in this case, with the statement on joining the Customs Union, the country’s state security is moved to the first plan. “In fact, it is dictated by the current situation, the war in the region, weakening of the position of Syria and Russia’s retreat. Should Armenia go to Europe, and not joining the Customs Union, I believe that the President of the country making such a statement, probably, tried to mitigate certain risks for us. Pursuant to the Constitution, the President is the guarantor of the state security, therefore, if there is no guarantee in this context, there is no sense to speak about economic projects seriously. That’s why he made such a statement, noted also about 2020 Economic Cooperation projects, energy and so on.”
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To the question of “Aravot” as to what economic benefit can Armenia obtain by joining the Customs Union, Mr. Makaryan said that it greatly depends on Armenia’s moves.
“We need to use a unified system of standards, GOST system is the same in CIS countries, and many Russian, Ukrainian and other CIS countries’ standards are adopted in Armenia, hence, using GOST system must be our priority, which means exchange of goods of the same quality and parameters. Here, it would be appropriate to strengthen our position, an intergovernmental commission would be invited, and Armenia would acquire quotas in trade. In other words, Russia imports from different countries, from CIS also, it will quote, certain quantity will be defined that this much percentage will be covered by Armenia, and not to leave on a market relations. In other words, this much million
liters of brandy, water or, canned food, etc., that Russia imports, some quantities be given to Armenia to supply. This should be done quickly, otherwise we would have difficulties,”- said Mr. Makaryan.
As presented by the economist, the technologies and novelties in CIS business are almost on the same level, the expert studying Kazakhstan’s economy has noticed that without the production and export of oil, gas, and radioactive materials, the real economy is about 2.5 billion dollars, this is the same as that of Armenia and other CIS countries. “In other words, the parts of real economy need to be properly assessed. We need to try to find beneficial trade relationship on this common ground. CIS countries, with outdated technology, and low speed, are developing countries, and if Armenia does not quickly solve its economic modernization, then in this unified family, which has GOST standards, they will try to get adapted in given situation. This is not encouraging.”
Joining the Customs Union, among Armenia’s beneficial steps should be the one that puts listings between the states and, as Mr. Makaryan said, based on those lists we will understand, for example, what progress we are going to make with Russia until 2020. The dynamic of this development, according to G. Makaryan, will enable to assess the interests of Armenia on the way to Europe or the Customs Union with CIS countries. “There is still a long process, for example, that the products need to be circulated in those countries, that are exempted from the customs duty, we need to understand what products we have and what are beneficial to put into circulation. We need to be prudent so as not to fill our listings with secondary and small volume products, but such products that will give effect to our economy. For example, if we put water, it will not benefit us, but a large quantity of brandy will bring significant impact, the same for canned food, wine, and other important items. The list is to be compiled correctly, we should not let the Russians or other countries decide what to include in the list. ” Referring to the statement of Serzh Sargsyan in Moscow, Mr. Makaryan said that it is important to correctly interpret the president’s speech,- “He said that our country has become more competitive, because many EU standards are applied, in other words, Armenia joining the union, the president indirectly wanted to show that as long as Russia is not in the Eastern Partnership, nor is Kazakhstan, Belarus is in an awkward situation, because the EU is actively working with them, to this sense, Armenia is more competitive. That is, Armenia is closer to the European standards. I think we should not interpret this statement so that we have forgotten the European part. I think our leadership would be flexible, and this initialing would happen, we can have a better, peaceful and secured life in the European family. This statement, in militarized geopolitical situation, perhaps, is more expedient for a certain period of time. But on November, we will sign the Association Agreement, the President did not deny it. I think the Europe will also understand it correctly, it is also interested in continuing partnership with Armenia.”
Nelly BABAYAN
P. S. The material was ready for printing when the European Commission issued a statement, in which it qualified the involvement in free trade area with the EU and economic cooperation within the CIS compatible.
