“Why was this question raised, as last year no such a task was put in Astana in May? Whether there are prerequisites of introducing a common currency throughout the territory of EaEU,” asked economist Ashot Yeghiazaryan today at the “Post Scriptum” press club, referring to the fact for creation of a common currency in the territory of EaEU. Note that Russian President Vladimir Putin, recently, gave an assignment to the Russian Central Bank to study the possibilities of switching to the EaEU common currency. Ashot Yeghiazaryan is sure that the common currency, first and foremost, required passing to high levels of common economic integration. “There is no common market in this area, and without it, it is impossible to pass to a common currency.”
The economist is not trying to compare the European Union’s decision to switch to the common currency as the EU has switched to the common currency in the result of meeting the required parameters. “Without meeting the macroeconomic parameters, there could be no economic basis for the transition to the common currency.” The economist explains the decision to switch to the common currency in the following way, “It follows only a political objective. The Eurasian project had a preliminary objective – to establish a single state. The economic objectives should be viewed only from the viewpoint of soft policy. It was revealed and identified that the Eurasian projects by Moscow were adventure and they’ve failed and, basically, Moscow is trying to pass to a tougher solution.”
The economist, addressing the economic indicators as of January, this year, and comparing them with the indicators for the same period last year, noted that there has been an economic fall. “Expressive indexes. Foreign trade was been reduced by 30 percent, the transfers – by 50 percent, the economic growth rates have slowed down and many industries experience significant fall. The energy sector is experiencing degradation and the banking sector – a stagnation”. Ashot Yeghiazaryan remembers that the EaEU-supporters in Armenia always justify the decision of the membership to this structure, saying that there is no other way out. “Now, they are trying to say that these indicators are not associated with the EaEU. Do not doubt and do not be surprised that a few months later the same people will say that Armenia does not need independence as we do not have any other way out.”
According to the economist, the real situation was such that we have had the status of a dependent country, in this case, from Russia. “Moreover, from the country whose economy depends on oil prices. Today, becoming an EaEU member, we have selected also the dependent isolated development path. There is no doubt that this process will lead us to political and economic disaster, and even to the loss of statehood.” Ashot Yeghiazaryan is sure that the only way out is turning to the Euro-Atlantic structures.
