Tweet
ARMENIA'S CUSTOMS UNION MOVE LINKED TO SECURITY CONCERNS - DEBATE
16:27 ~U 27.11.13
Armenia's decision to join the Eurasian Customs Union is linked to
security and economic concerns, according to a parliament member.
Speaking at a public debate in Yerevan, a lawmaker of the Rule of Law
party, Mher Shahgeldyan, said the move does not absolutely prevent
the country from implementing the agreements signed earlier with the
European Union.
According to him, Armenia continues to remain at the intersection
between Europe and Russia.
"Armenia has made a decision to accede to the Customs Union,
considering national security and economic interests. This has to do
with our national security, and regional issues," he noted.
Aram Sargsyan, the leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia, said
later that it is important for Armenia's public and political circles
to finally realize what the country needs.
"Do we have to by all means set up barricades and split up? There
has been no sober debate over the issue to date. We have limited
opportunities I think, because Armenia didn't choose the association
with Europe; agree that Europe is to blame for that. What were
the European organizations doing in Armenia over [the past] 22
years? Some $220 million were spent for making structural reforms,
but can the state administration system be said to have become more
efficient?" he said.
The Free Democrats party's leader, Angela Khachatryan, noted for
her part that the Armenian society has not so far seen the documents
which Armenia is to sign to become a Customs Union member.
"The Association Agreement text was not known either, but certain
clauses were familiar, at least on the level of analyses. We would
evidently have a progress here as the access to the European market
was said to be offering big opportunities to the country. Armenia
today has a broader cooperation with the European rather than the
Russian market," she said.
Khachatryan added that Armenia is thus joining a supranational
organization where all the decisions are legally binding on all the
member states.
"They will actually intervene in the entire financial-economic system
of Armenia. As for security, I do not share the opinion that Armenia is
thus ensuring its security. Are there guarantees that the authorities
will not hand over Karabakh without informing the society, as they
did with the Customs Union decision?" she said.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: A. Papazian
16:27 ~U 27.11.13
Armenia's decision to join the Eurasian Customs Union is linked to
security and economic concerns, according to a parliament member.
Speaking at a public debate in Yerevan, a lawmaker of the Rule of Law
party, Mher Shahgeldyan, said the move does not absolutely prevent
the country from implementing the agreements signed earlier with the
European Union.
According to him, Armenia continues to remain at the intersection
between Europe and Russia.
"Armenia has made a decision to accede to the Customs Union,
considering national security and economic interests. This has to do
with our national security, and regional issues," he noted.
Aram Sargsyan, the leader of the Democratic Party of Armenia, said
later that it is important for Armenia's public and political circles
to finally realize what the country needs.
"Do we have to by all means set up barricades and split up? There
has been no sober debate over the issue to date. We have limited
opportunities I think, because Armenia didn't choose the association
with Europe; agree that Europe is to blame for that. What were
the European organizations doing in Armenia over [the past] 22
years? Some $220 million were spent for making structural reforms,
but can the state administration system be said to have become more
efficient?" he said.
The Free Democrats party's leader, Angela Khachatryan, noted for
her part that the Armenian society has not so far seen the documents
which Armenia is to sign to become a Customs Union member.
"The Association Agreement text was not known either, but certain
clauses were familiar, at least on the level of analyses. We would
evidently have a progress here as the access to the European market
was said to be offering big opportunities to the country. Armenia
today has a broader cooperation with the European rather than the
Russian market," she said.
Khachatryan added that Armenia is thus joining a supranational
organization where all the decisions are legally binding on all the
member states.
"They will actually intervene in the entire financial-economic system
of Armenia. As for security, I do not share the opinion that Armenia is
thus ensuring its security. Are there guarantees that the authorities
will not hand over Karabakh without informing the society, as they
did with the Customs Union decision?" she said.
Armenian News - Tert.am
From: A. Papazian