The Chairman of the NA Committee on State and Legal Affairs, Hovhannes Sahakyan, about the Customs Union accession process
– In the Eurasian Economic Union panel session in Astana, the President of the republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, asked for a time-period for Armenia to regulate some “technical” issues and on June 15, will already sign the EEU membership, and later, on July 1, the Customs Union membership documents. The first time-period elapsed, the other is getting close. Are the technical problems removed?
– An expert working group has been established in the government that deals with these issues to be able to clarify the issues that have not yet been clarified. In the transition period, after signing the documents, so that the transition would have less impact of our economy and the business world. And to the benefit of us. In other words, so that the transition would have positive responses. And, of course, if something is agreed upon, and so far no other statement is voiced, we can assume that the document will be signed.
– It is also expected that a number of legislative amendment should be made. As a Chairman of the Committee on Legal Affairs, can you say whether there is a legal-contractual basis for signing of these documents?
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– I do not think that there are global laws that need to be radically adapted, but there are a number of laws, one of which is in the ongoing extraordinary session agenda, the draft law on the food safety. There are a number of different similar drafts, which must be common in the overall customs area. We are now in a transition period. I think that after signing the document, we will have a certain period of time to be able to gradually become a full member of the Eurasian Union. It is not that we need to begin on the very first day. Let’s not forget that we have time until January 1. Of course, there are dozens of laws, draft laws, and legal acts, which should generally be agreed with the customs legislation, but it is not that we need to do it until July 1 and then sign the agreement. We now globally clarify and confirm with the views and approaches, later we will try giving also legal solutions. By signing on July 1, we will take on general principles, and then, by January 1, when our signed intergovernmental agreement will enter into effect, we will try to make the changes you mentioned. It is a process, in which the Constitutional Court should also be involved, because if an international agreement is contrary to our Constitution, then such agreements are not signed. The NA ratifies the document based on the Constitutional Court’s conclusion.
– In his recent conversation with “Aravot”, the “Heritage” faction MP, Alexander Arzumanyan, noticed that the CU membership process is quite concealed, and the legislature is not involved in it. Isn’t there a basis for such a fear?
– An experienced diplomat like Mr. Arzumanyan should know that the initial process is available to the extent, which the parties consider appropriate. In other words, the negotiations, in principle, may also include a secret period. But when the matter comes to the parliament for debate and approval, there will be no secret.
– As the Chairman of the Committee on State and Legal Affairs, and a prominent Republican, are you aware of the working group activities, and generally, the CU accession process?
– According to the RA Constitution, the government and the legislature have their attributed powers. I do know the information and am aware to the extent that relates to my position and in compliance with my standing in the Republican Party. Therefore, if the government is dealing with the problem, then the working group of the government also discusses and agrees on all issues, and arrives at a general conclusion by preparing the documents for signing. Only after that, within our parliamentary powers, our Committee arranges discussions, hearings and other events.
– A similar process was going on before signing the EU Association Agreement, at the end it turned out that no one is aware of anything.
– I do not agree, because with regard to the EU Association Agreement, the National Assembly had formed an Eastern Partnership inter-parliamentary group, whose members were MP of all parties, and all of them in one way or another were aware of the process. Of course, to the permissible extent. And if an inter-parliamentary working group is formed for the “Eurasian”, or any format of partnership, the Parliament will participate in these processes.
Interviewer, Nelly GRIGORYAN
