EXPERTS SPEAK OF PROSPECTS OF ARMENIA’S ACCESSION TO EURASIAN ECONOMIC UNION
21:48 * 14.10.14
Head of the Modus Vivendi center Ara Papoyan believes that Armenia’s
accession to the Eurasian Economic Union raises a number of questions.
“Price rise and other problems are visible and inevitable, while
prospects are bleak and desirable,” he told Tert.am.
Any doubt that a treaty on Armenia’s accession would be signed on
October 10 was reasonable because the treaty was to have been signed
as far back as May.
“If we had signed it in May, we would have been a founding member. At
that time we would all have formed a union, whereas now they are
admitting us to their union,” Mr Papoyan said.
The treaties are to be ratified by the member-states, and Kazakhstan
may set conditions.
“For example, Aliyev may give Nazarbayev five million dollars and
ask him to raise a question that Armenia must make a statement on a
customs station with Artsakh,” he said. Russia may attempt relevant
negotiations on behalf of Armenia as well.
As to whether this uncertainty is to Armenia’s benefit, Mr Papyan said:
“The present situation is bad because if we want to join the Eurasian
Economic Union, but we do not actually join means that West European
countries keep their distance from our country. A worse option is,
however, when a treaty is signed, without being ratified later.”
With respect to the Kazakh president’s position, he said:
“Nazarbayev stated that they made a compromise, which means they made
a concession, and we made another. We do not know anything about the
Armenian side’s concessions. When we know it, we can make assessments.”
As regards Armenia-EU relations, Mr Papyan said:
“Even if we try to maintain the relations, the legal framework will be
entirely different especially since it is not we that will be dealing
with the problem of our borders. For example, we have 5-year import
contracts with numerous European companies, and Russia says we have
to compensate for the difference from our budget.”
Political scientist Levon Shirinyan believes that the treaty on
Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union will be ratified
just as it was signed.
It is Armenia’s geographic location that accounts for its decision
in favor of the Eurasian Economic Union.
“We should think of benefiting and avoiding challenges,” he said.
“Russia is mobilizing its potential, and will modernize itself
without the West’s assistance. Russia’s intellectual resources are
limited, and the Armenia people can benefit greatly. By and large,
Armenia and Artsakh [Nagorno-Karabakh] could turn into a scientific
and industrial union to serve the Eurasian Economic Union’s economic
and scientific-technical market,” Mr Shirinyan said.
He sees a threat in cultural intervention.
“We urgently need a state concept of cultural security, which will
protect our spiritual and cultural heritage. We are not joining Russia,
but we are joining an alliance with dignity,” he said.
“A vast area with enormous resources will be open to us. The point
is whether we will have an elite that would defend our national
interests within this union – about which I have serious doubts,”
Mr Shirinyan said.
Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union is an accomplished
fact.
“We know that neither Belarus nor Kazakhstan or, far less so,
Armenia is a democratic state. Therefore, it is going to happen as
Putin orders. We are taking this step for our statehood, without any
confrontation with the West. We are forming an alliance and economic
relations with Russia, which is not aimed at the United States,
Iran or any other nation,” the expert said.
Armenian News – Tert.am