When the RA President Serzh Sargsyan stated about Armenia’s joining the Customs Union, political figures of different levels expressed their opinions that there have been pressures from Russia. High-rank European officials have also expressed similar opinions, which were followed by denials of our officials.
Now Russia is accusing the European Union for imposing pressures over Armenia, and to the allegations of the Armenian politicians that by entering into the CU we are losing our sovereignty declares that Armenia would have lost its sovereignty by joining the EU.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with “Aravot”, RF President’s Advisor Sergey Glazyev expressed an opinion that an additional factor for Armenia’s joining the CU was the pressure on Armenia by the European Union for Armenia’s integration with the EU. “It was not us to push Armenia to make a decision to join the Customs Union, but the European Union, with its stubborn desire to deprive Armenia from its sovereignty. To preserve the independence and the balanced relations with Russia, the President of Armenia was compelled to make relevant political decision under given pressure.”
Hovhannes Igityan, international expert, former chairman of NA Foreign Relations Committee, in the interview with “Aravot”, regarding this statement of Glazyev said that such Russian bureaucrat officials should not come out of their primary working responsibilities, and conduct political analysis, moreover, warning Armenia and giving assessments. “I do not think it is right, regardless of what Glazyev had said, any EU pressure, I do not know what kind of pressure, at least we read and learn that there had been no secret meetings held to have pressures and could not be.”
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As for the opinion about Armenia’s losing its sovereignty, analyzing the requirements of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, Mr. Igityan said that “they are just guidelines, where it says whether Armenia admits them, or not, whether it wants to work towards the direction of developing its economy, whether Armenia wants to certify its products in a European way, or not. And, in this case accepting these terms, our products will obtain free access to the European market. By doing this, there would be civilized standards not only towards the products produced within the country, but also towards the imported goods, and the European producers would think whether it would not be more beneficial to produce their products in Armenia. Today, if we put aside the political issue, there should be an economic miracle in Armenia, in other words, when we are talking about Armenia, the matter is about 2-3 billion euros of direct investment in 2-5 years, which will enable to develop the economy, provide jobs and somehow stop the emigration.”
According to Mr. Igityan, Russian officials, instead of expressing content that Armenia has joined the CU, are voicing even aggressiveness and criticism against those politicians who express their opinion on inappropriateness of Armenia’s joining the CU.
By joining the CU, Armenia will no longer control over its customs terms, and the EU, according to Mr. Igityan, cannot spread the terms suggested earlier over Armenia, therefore new terms should be proposed. “Now we are not going to determine the customs duties for incoming goods, how quoting
of the goods or exporting should be. This should be determined by the Economic Commission of the Customs Union, which is headed by Victor Khristenko. CU is an administrative unit, and the EU Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area is an economic market unit. In one case, free market relations will operate, and in case of the CU, the agility or corruption of bureaucrats will operate.”
To such observation of “Aravot” that the RF President’s Advisor assured that there is a High Eurasian Economic Council in the CU, which operates on the bases of consensus, and may cancel any decision of the Eurasian Economic Committee, whether our representatives can go against the decisions favorable to us, Mr. Igityan said, “First of all, let our politicians remember that in the last 10-15 years Armenia has never said ‘no’ to Putin or any other official, or has given at least a little bit of critical answer to any non-favorable decision for Armenia. We had kept silent even when selling weapons of mass destruction to Azerbaijan, isn’t it clear that Armenia and our officials would have no courage, nor the knowledge to say ‘no’ to Khristenko’s decisions.”
Mr. Igityan, addressing the economic benefits of joining the CU, expressed his opinion that the customs duties operating in the Customs Union are higher, than on the goods imported to Armenia. This will increase the threshold of our consumption basket. In addition, according to the expert, the forecasts that the budget revenues will increase in 0,5-7 %, it is not still a guarantee that the ordinary Armenian citizen’s life will become better. Mr. Igityan brought the examples of Kazakhstan and Belarus, whose governments have already expressed dissatisfaction with re-distribution of CU total revenues.
To our question, if there will be unfavorable terms for Armenia, whether we will have the ability or courage to withdraw from the CU, Mr. Igityan said, “Joining the Customs Union, of course, is problematic, a risk for Armenia, but can you imagine if Armenia decides to leave, even in a subtle way, not mentioning about slamming the door, can you imagine what sanctions and pressures would be applied by Russia, if Armenia decides that CU is not favorable. There are things in politics, when, let’s say, withdrawal is a greater loss than entering. Armenia met Russia’s desire and terms. It is apparent from rejoice of Russian officials. Along with rejoice there is also aggressiveness, and if we assess the current situation, I did not see improvement in the Armenian-Russian relations, I do not see that there is a favorable atmosphere for Armenians in Russia, or any difference between the citizens of CU non-member countries and Armenians. There are even complaints, according to Russian media, that they are going to feed another country. Popular Russians say that Armenia is a burden for them.”
Nelly BABAYAN
