“If Armenia decides to go to the Customs Union, then it transfers a part of its sovereignty to the Customs Union,” said German Ambassador to Armenia Rainer Morel. According to him, Armenia can no longer talk about a free trade zone with the EU, because the issue of tariffs will be determined by the Customs Union. “Armenia is no longer free to determine the tariffs, because the authority is transferred to the Customs Union. From now on, the Customs Union, as a legal entity, will be negotiating with other countries on these issues.” As said by Mr. Morel, by joining the CU, Armenia is still open and sovereign in socio-cultural and political aspects, and it needs to take these aspects in its hands and be able to operate in these aspects independently. “If it gainsays, there would be more offers from the Customs Union, also regarding other aspects.”
As said by the Ambassador, although Russia does not say anything whether or not it has given a guarantee in the security issue, however, “The situation, in which Armenia appears, raises the idea among many people that the priority issue for Armenia to join the Customs Union is the security issue. Europe does not question that Russia, having its base in Gyumri, is providing security guarantees in this way. Armenia and Russia are old partners, they are in the same military cooperation. Solving the Karabakh problem, a new situation would be created.” To our question whether failing to initialing the EU Association Agreement does not cast a shadow on the work already done, Mr. Morel said, “We can reach an agreement and implement what is done. Accession to the Customs Union is not the end of the world.”
Arpine Simonyan
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Photos, mediamax.am
