86% OF ARMENIA’S RESPONDENTS HAS FAVORABLE ATTITUDE TOWARD CUSTOMS UNION ACCESSION – SURVEY

November 08, 2013 | 11:29

YEREVAN. – As a result of a survey conducted among 1,000 people in
Armenia, it was found out that 86 percent of the respondents has a
favorable attitude toward the Armenian authorities’ decision to join
the Customs Union.

“Integration and Development” NGO Director Aram Safaryan noted
the abovementioned at Friday’s Yerevan-Moscow live television link
discussion.

As per Safaryan, however, solely 10 percent of the respondents
actually knows what the Russia-led Customs Union is, whereas a
virtually overwhelming majority trusts the Customs Union.

In addition, there is a great trust toward Russia as the engine of
the Customs Union. Specifically, people over the age of sixty and the
middle-aged have particularly positive attitude toward the Customs
Union, whereas the youth prefer Europe.

Furthermore, 82 percent of the respondents consider Russia to
be Armenia’s friend. But, in Aram Safaryan’s words, this positive
attitude may disappear if the people’s approval is not made use of
and they are not informed about the ongoing integration processes.

To note, following the talks that were held on September 3 in
Moscow between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and
Vladimir Putin, Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join
the Customs Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the
Eurasian Economic Union. Aside from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan
likewise are members in the Customs Union. And in response to this
development, the European Union had stated that the signing of the
Armenia-EU Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Area agreement is now doubtful.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress