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"CUSTOMS UNION WILL BE EITHER COLLAPSED OR REFORMED"
July 9 2013
"I do not see any contradiction between initialing Association
Agreement with the EU and Customs Union and, moreover, I think
the discussions about Customs Union artificial",-so expressed his
opinion Stepan Grigoryan, Chairman of the Board of 'Analytical
Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation' in a conversation
with "Aravot". In response to our question that opinions were heard
recently that pressure was applied over Armenia by Russia to join the
Customs Union and to fail initialing the EU Association Agreement in
November in Vilnius, Mr. Grigoryan said that initialing the Association
would take place. "I do not think that we need to contradistinguish
our cooperation with Russia and other CIS countries each other with
another treaty. The Customs Union, which includes Russia, Kazakhstan
and Belarus, the rules of the game, here, are contrary to the ones of
the World Trade Organization (WTO). And as Russia has already become
a WTO member, and now Kazakhstan is striving to become a WTO member,
it is obvious that the Customs Union will be either reformed, or
collapsed. There is no need to orient on Customs Union because we
have nothing in the Customs Union, we have no border, and Customs
Union will not give us anything."
According to Mr. Grigoryan, if the terms of Customs Union are amended,
then in that case there will be no conflict in terms of cooperation
of Armenia with Europe. "And discussions on the Eurasian Union can be
held at a time when Russia clearly specify as to what it is, whether
it is an interstate union, what this union should contain, whether
there will be state institutions, or not and so on and so forth. When
checked, then we will sit down and talk. And the Association Agreement
will be signed, because the last 2 years Armenia is actively working
and executes all the terms presented in the framework of the Eastern
Partnership Program with the European Union, including in terms of
free trade zone agreement." In addition to this, in the opinion of
the expert, Armenia meets the EU requirements in the sector of policy.
"Armenia does not have the problem, which, for example, is available
in Ukraine related to Tymoshenko. The trade sector, the issue of visa
facilitation, readmission agreement, these come into collision with
those sectors where we are actively working with Russia. And we are
working in the military-political sector with Russia, and they are
different, not contravening sectors to each other."
To the question of "Aravot", as to in that case what does the
selling of weapons at such large scale and dangerous to Azerbaijan
by Russia mean if it was not 'a message' to join the Customs Union,
the politician said,- "I do not think that the gas price or selling
of arms is connected with our position regarding the Customs Union,
in addition, Russia's policy, in the last few years, is not military
and political. Russia acts according to the moment: at this moment, it
is beneficial to increase the price in gas, it does, it is beneficial
to sell weapons to Azerbaijan, it does, because 1 billion dollars is
not a small amount for Russia, as well. I do not think Russia runs
a long-term policy, it is more tactical, but not strategic." Nelly
BABAYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/07/09/155326/
July 9 2013
"I do not see any contradiction between initialing Association
Agreement with the EU and Customs Union and, moreover, I think
the discussions about Customs Union artificial",-so expressed his
opinion Stepan Grigoryan, Chairman of the Board of 'Analytical
Center on Globalization and Regional Cooperation' in a conversation
with "Aravot". In response to our question that opinions were heard
recently that pressure was applied over Armenia by Russia to join the
Customs Union and to fail initialing the EU Association Agreement in
November in Vilnius, Mr. Grigoryan said that initialing the Association
would take place. "I do not think that we need to contradistinguish
our cooperation with Russia and other CIS countries each other with
another treaty. The Customs Union, which includes Russia, Kazakhstan
and Belarus, the rules of the game, here, are contrary to the ones of
the World Trade Organization (WTO). And as Russia has already become
a WTO member, and now Kazakhstan is striving to become a WTO member,
it is obvious that the Customs Union will be either reformed, or
collapsed. There is no need to orient on Customs Union because we
have nothing in the Customs Union, we have no border, and Customs
Union will not give us anything."
According to Mr. Grigoryan, if the terms of Customs Union are amended,
then in that case there will be no conflict in terms of cooperation
of Armenia with Europe. "And discussions on the Eurasian Union can be
held at a time when Russia clearly specify as to what it is, whether
it is an interstate union, what this union should contain, whether
there will be state institutions, or not and so on and so forth. When
checked, then we will sit down and talk. And the Association Agreement
will be signed, because the last 2 years Armenia is actively working
and executes all the terms presented in the framework of the Eastern
Partnership Program with the European Union, including in terms of
free trade zone agreement." In addition to this, in the opinion of
the expert, Armenia meets the EU requirements in the sector of policy.
"Armenia does not have the problem, which, for example, is available
in Ukraine related to Tymoshenko. The trade sector, the issue of visa
facilitation, readmission agreement, these come into collision with
those sectors where we are actively working with Russia. And we are
working in the military-political sector with Russia, and they are
different, not contravening sectors to each other."
To the question of "Aravot", as to in that case what does the
selling of weapons at such large scale and dangerous to Azerbaijan
by Russia mean if it was not 'a message' to join the Customs Union,
the politician said,- "I do not think that the gas price or selling
of arms is connected with our position regarding the Customs Union,
in addition, Russia's policy, in the last few years, is not military
and political. Russia acts according to the moment: at this moment, it
is beneficial to increase the price in gas, it does, it is beneficial
to sell weapons to Azerbaijan, it does, because 1 billion dollars is
not a small amount for Russia, as well. I do not think Russia runs
a long-term policy, it is more tactical, but not strategic." Nelly
BABAYAN
Read more at: http://en.aravot.am/2013/07/09/155326/