ARMENIA’S EEU MEMBERSHIP POLITICALLY DONE DEAL – BELARUSIAN EXPERT
12:47 * 18.09.14
The political decision on Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic
Union (EEU) is practically made, with only technical matters still
needing a finalization, according to a Belarusian expert.
At news conference in Yeervan, Alexander Shpakovski said the founding
member states of the Russia-led bloc have already given their consent
to the country’s membership bid.
Asked whether he believes that the membership treaty will be signed
on October 10, the expert said he finds that the most likely scenario.
“If the document’s signing isn’t rescheduled due to the technical
reasons,” Shpakovski replied. “But its impact is not going to be
that serious, so the Armenia will soon be able to benefit from all
the positive impacts that the EEU envisages.”
Addressing the topic, Alexander Sitin, a leading researcher from the
Russian Institute for Strategic Studies, also said that he does not
see any reason for the contrary scenario.”I think Armenia will accede
to the EEU. The delay is a technical issue, so there is absolutely no
serious reason. If the meeting does take place, I think the document
will be in most likelihood signed,” he noted.
The expert further dismissed the reports about the founding member
states’ disagreements over Armenia’s membership issue. He said that
all the three countries (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus) have hailed
Armenia’s decision.
Asked what country will be the next to join the bloc, Sitin said he
believes it will be Kyrgyzstan. But he recommended against making
haste.
“Expansion should not be an end in itself. We know there is an interest
on the part of Middle Asia, but those countries are
From: A. Papazian