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ARMENIA IN THE CUSTOMS UNION: STATISTICS AND HOPES
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 27 2013
27 December 2013 - 6:07pm
By Vestnik Kavkaza
Armenia has a chance to become a member of the Customs Union (CU)
by the beginning of 2015 , according to Deputy Economic Development
Minister Alexei Likhachev. However, according to him, the road map did
not fix a specific time frame, so it will be determined by negotiations
and a regulatory framework, in particular, the ratification procedures
of the relevant documents.
According to the president of the European Cooperation Development
Foundation, Mher Simonyan, a public opinion poll conducted in Yerevan
in early October showed that 86 % of respondents have a positive
attitude to Armenia's accession to the CU, and only 6% feel negative
about it. "The participation of Yerevan in the CU and in the forming
Eurasian Economic Union will objectively help maintaining political
and socio-economic stability in the country. Specific targeted
assistance and investments in key sectors of the Armenian economy
from partners - Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan - are more relevant
and urgent for Yerevan than the European Union's abstract promises of
financing programs for the rehabilitation of the business climate and
the attraction of foreign investments", Simonyan said. "Russia is the
largest investor in the Armenian economy. Total investment has amounted
to $ 2.5 billion, 44 % of the total foreign investment. This year,
Russia allocated loan to Armenia for the renovation and extension
of the working lifespan of the Metsamor A-plant in Armenia, giving
30 % of all electricity to the country. And the European Union has
repeatedly demanded to close the plant".
At the same time, according to Simonian, "Russia is ready to make
use of the investment for the rehabilitation and modernization of the
chemical plant in the south. Armenia will receive $100 million for the
construction of strategic transport corridor "North - South". "Russian
Railways" to invest more than $500 million in the modernization of the
Armenian railway and the construction of Armenia - Iran highway. The
Russian businesses in Armenia operate efficiently, pay taxes to the
budget, provide jobs for tens of thousands of people. Moreover, an
application to join the Customs Union has led to lower prices for
Russian gas and for Russian nuclear fuel".
Simonian urges not to forget that "the main market of Armenian goods
is in Russia and not in Europe. 95% of wine production goes to the
Russian Federation. The trade turnover between the two countries
last year has increased by 22 % and amounted to $ 1.2 billion. The
Armenian export to Russia in January - August 2013 has already reached
820 million dollars. The removal of fees for access to the market of
the CU dramatically increased the volume of Armenian exports. "
Agassi Arabyan, president of NGO "Javakhk Diaspora of Russia",
also likes the Customs Union: "The negative development in the major
Western countries compel the Eurasian countries, including Armenia,
to think about how to ensure more stable life".
According to him, one of the bonuses from the CU is unfettered access
to the Russian market: "Now Armenia has problems with movement,
in particular, because of the Georgians. That is not forever, now
the power there is changed, and it is hoped that everything could
calm down. The membership in the Eurasian Union will eliminate the
difficulties that may arise about increasing exports to Armenia.
Moreover, the Eurasian Union is a unified space of labour force ,
and entry into this structure is beneficial for Armenia, since it
will reduce the flow of migrant workers a certain number of times".
Speaking about migration, Arabyan said: "The Armenians can start
creating their businesses in Russia and Armenia. This means that there
is no need to look for ways of seeking to obtain the citizenship of
other countries and to find accommodation elsewhere".
In Arabyan's opinion, one cannot ignore the factor of energy, on
which Armenia fully depends today. It is obvious to everyone. "For
the countries in the Eurasian Union, Russia will sell, of course,
energy at domestic prices, as it has promised. There is, you all know
already, such a proposal, it is very welcome, and we are happy. Also,
through the Eurasian Union, Armenia can lobby for its interests.
Armenia's joining the CU will once again strengthen the position
of Armenia in the sense that it can be really useful to neighboring
Georgia and as a mediator in all matters that are now acute for Russia
and Georgia, that is, in Russian-Georgian relations. We believe that
Armenia is also interested in the establishment of relations between
Georgia and Russia, because, apart from the transport dependence,
there is still interest of the Armenian population. Accordingly,
we support this decision, and there are high hopes that soon the
Georgian authorities also think about getting into the CU, because
there will be, as it would have been a little earlier expressed, the
full support for stability in the region and large economic support
for two neighbors and brotherly countries".
Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Dec 27 2013
27 December 2013 - 6:07pm
By Vestnik Kavkaza
Armenia has a chance to become a member of the Customs Union (CU)
by the beginning of 2015 , according to Deputy Economic Development
Minister Alexei Likhachev. However, according to him, the road map did
not fix a specific time frame, so it will be determined by negotiations
and a regulatory framework, in particular, the ratification procedures
of the relevant documents.
According to the president of the European Cooperation Development
Foundation, Mher Simonyan, a public opinion poll conducted in Yerevan
in early October showed that 86 % of respondents have a positive
attitude to Armenia's accession to the CU, and only 6% feel negative
about it. "The participation of Yerevan in the CU and in the forming
Eurasian Economic Union will objectively help maintaining political
and socio-economic stability in the country. Specific targeted
assistance and investments in key sectors of the Armenian economy
from partners - Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan - are more relevant
and urgent for Yerevan than the European Union's abstract promises of
financing programs for the rehabilitation of the business climate and
the attraction of foreign investments", Simonyan said. "Russia is the
largest investor in the Armenian economy. Total investment has amounted
to $ 2.5 billion, 44 % of the total foreign investment. This year,
Russia allocated loan to Armenia for the renovation and extension
of the working lifespan of the Metsamor A-plant in Armenia, giving
30 % of all electricity to the country. And the European Union has
repeatedly demanded to close the plant".
At the same time, according to Simonian, "Russia is ready to make
use of the investment for the rehabilitation and modernization of the
chemical plant in the south. Armenia will receive $100 million for the
construction of strategic transport corridor "North - South". "Russian
Railways" to invest more than $500 million in the modernization of the
Armenian railway and the construction of Armenia - Iran highway. The
Russian businesses in Armenia operate efficiently, pay taxes to the
budget, provide jobs for tens of thousands of people. Moreover, an
application to join the Customs Union has led to lower prices for
Russian gas and for Russian nuclear fuel".
Simonian urges not to forget that "the main market of Armenian goods
is in Russia and not in Europe. 95% of wine production goes to the
Russian Federation. The trade turnover between the two countries
last year has increased by 22 % and amounted to $ 1.2 billion. The
Armenian export to Russia in January - August 2013 has already reached
820 million dollars. The removal of fees for access to the market of
the CU dramatically increased the volume of Armenian exports. "
Agassi Arabyan, president of NGO "Javakhk Diaspora of Russia",
also likes the Customs Union: "The negative development in the major
Western countries compel the Eurasian countries, including Armenia,
to think about how to ensure more stable life".
According to him, one of the bonuses from the CU is unfettered access
to the Russian market: "Now Armenia has problems with movement,
in particular, because of the Georgians. That is not forever, now
the power there is changed, and it is hoped that everything could
calm down. The membership in the Eurasian Union will eliminate the
difficulties that may arise about increasing exports to Armenia.
Moreover, the Eurasian Union is a unified space of labour force ,
and entry into this structure is beneficial for Armenia, since it
will reduce the flow of migrant workers a certain number of times".
Speaking about migration, Arabyan said: "The Armenians can start
creating their businesses in Russia and Armenia. This means that there
is no need to look for ways of seeking to obtain the citizenship of
other countries and to find accommodation elsewhere".
In Arabyan's opinion, one cannot ignore the factor of energy, on
which Armenia fully depends today. It is obvious to everyone. "For
the countries in the Eurasian Union, Russia will sell, of course,
energy at domestic prices, as it has promised. There is, you all know
already, such a proposal, it is very welcome, and we are happy. Also,
through the Eurasian Union, Armenia can lobby for its interests.
Armenia's joining the CU will once again strengthen the position
of Armenia in the sense that it can be really useful to neighboring
Georgia and as a mediator in all matters that are now acute for Russia
and Georgia, that is, in Russian-Georgian relations. We believe that
Armenia is also interested in the establishment of relations between
Georgia and Russia, because, apart from the transport dependence,
there is still interest of the Armenian population. Accordingly,
we support this decision, and there are high hopes that soon the
Georgian authorities also think about getting into the CU, because
there will be, as it would have been a little earlier expressed, the
full support for stability in the region and large economic support
for two neighbors and brotherly countries".