The proposal to the Russian President Vladimir Putin on singing the agreement of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union Treaty is included on the agenda of Russian Government session. Aravot.am asked the former head of the Armenian delegation to PACE, and ANM Board member, Hovhannes Igityan, whether this means that the bill of Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union is becoming a reality.
Mr. Igityan, first, recalled the meeting in Astana, when Armenia was presenting that it is ready to join the Eurasian Economic Union and only a few economic problems are left. The same was expressed by the representatives of other member states, expect for Nazarbayev. He was drawing the issue of positioning a customs checkpoint between Armenia and Karabakh, which did not receive adequate respond by the Government of Armenia. According to Hovhannes Igityan’s wording, “Serzh Sargsyan only cast a stern look at Nazarbayev.”
Mr. Igityan also recalled that the Government of Armenia had made a request-proposal to grant Armenia a waiver on that at least 900 items of goods of the Customs Union, with low tariff. Going back to the current situation, Mr. Igityan believes that little has been changed and notes. “Are these issues resolved?
I do not know the answer, whom should I get it from? Maybe we should try asking the RA authorities try to learn because they do not talk about it. I listen to the Prime Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister, some Russian quaternary officials state that Armenia is ready and soon will become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union. But these issues are not the caprice by Armenia, without solution of at least these two issues, Armenia, in general, cannot be a member of this alliance.”
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Mr. Igityan believes that the time has come again when Russia needs Armenia, like on September 3, and again Russia will use Armenia. “On September 3, Russia needed Armenia to make a statement on accession to the Customs Union. It was directed against Ukraine, in failing the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius. Later, when the issue of Ukraine came out of the agenda, Armenia’s accession moved to the second plan. Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus do not need Armenia in this alliance, nor in general. Now the situation is different. Today, Russia is alone. The UN Security Council session showed that no country stood next to Russia. In this situation, Russia is trying to re-develop the same game. It simply wants to emphasize that look, Armenia is beside me and there are countries, which in this case support my foreign policy.”
Mr. Igityan is surprised at whether Nazarbayev has regretted, whether he no more thinks that Armenia should have a customs checkpoint with Karabakh, that Aliyev does not know the place of a pen and paper to write a letter to Nazarbayev and Putin saying that he is against Armenia’s accession without Nagorno-Karabakh and without having any economic borders.” Mr. Igityan does not rule out the possibility of the signature, but also notes that the process of implementation thereof should go on and in general, the Eurasian Economic Union should exist as of January 1, and legislative, also administrative steps must be taken.”
Today and now Russia needs Armenia, and I do not rule out the possibility that Putin would present this proposal or request to Armenia in Sochi. It is clear what Russia should demand from Azerbaijan, but it is not clear what it would demand from Armenia. In this situation, Russia may tell Armenia that I would try unleashing Azerbaijan, and you sign this document. We again go back to this blackmail policy.”
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
