ARMENIA’S MEMBERSHIP IN CUSTOMS UNION WILL HELP IT AVOID MANY FACTORS LIMITING ITS DEVELOPMENT- PRIME MINISTER SAYS
YEREVAN, October 18, / ARKA / . Armenia’s accession to the Russia-led
Customs Union will help it avoid many factors limiting its development,
according to Prime Minister of Armenia Tigran Sargsyan, who spoke at
a media forum titled “At the Foot of Mount Ararat” that kicked off
today in Yerevan.
“We decided to enter the Customs Union because it gives us the
opportunity to build our strategic relationship with Russia on a
more fundamental platform; it also allows to remove many constraints
that may arise if Armenia appeared outside of the Customs Union,”
said Sargsyan.
The Prime Minister explained that Armenia’s geopolitical situation
gives this issue a special significance in contrast to other countries.
“We have four neighbors, with two of them – Turkey and Azerbaijan –
we have no relations, and the international sanctions against Iran
have intensified Armenia’s blockade. The only road that connects us
with the world is through Georgia,” he said.
According to him, this geopolitical situation leaves its mark on the
structure of Armenia’s economy.
“Many industries have become hopeless, because we do not have a common
border with Russia, our main strategic partner and a major investor.
This means that we must properly assess the comparative advantages of
our economy and the long-term limiting factors affecting its structure,
” he said.
He said this in mind Armenia is building a new structure of its
economy, “which first of all should be based on the use of intellectual
resources.”
Sargsyan said also that Armenia’s joining the Customs Union will
have a positive impact on its national security and will also promote
deepening of the Armenian- Russian cultural relations. -0-
– See more at: