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ARMENIA'S ACCESSION TO EEU BEST OPTION - ARA ABRAHAMYAN
20:12 * 10.12.14
President of the Union of Armenians in Russia and UNESCO Good Will
Ambassador Ara Abrahamyan does not rule out that the grave economic
situation in Russia will impede certain investments programs in
Armenia.
To serve as a bridge between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and
the European Union (EU), Armenia should cooperate with all the sides.
"Mere talk will not build a bridge, even one between Armenia and
Russia. We must cooperate with all sides," Mr Abrahamyan told Tert.am.
As regards the impact of sanctions against Russia and the possibility
of an economic crisis in Armenia, he said:
"Any crisis would affect all the Russian citizens. But we are
well aware of one thing: we all must continue doing our business,
unite and rally round the authorities, to be able to cope with the
crisis without any panic. Russia saw similar economic situations in
different periods."
Armenia is Russia's political and economic partner, and Russia is
Armenia's best friend.
"It means that a crisis in Russia - and Russian and Armenian
economies are interrelated- may cause problems in Armenia. As a
result, the planned investments programs may not be implemented,"
Mr Abrahamyan said.
Most of the Armenian Parliament members voted for Armenia's accession
to the EEU. Can Armenia's political forces be said to be trying
to unite?
"I consider it normal that the treaty on Armenia's accession to
the EEU was almost unanimously approved because we are working with
Russia now. I do not know about a single proposal that is better than
accession to the EEU. We must not ignore Russia and our own interests."
As regards the claims that Armenia is moving toward an unstable
economic environment, with RUB depreciation affecting the Armenian
dram, Mr Abrahamyan said:
"What does 'unstable' mean? If we are moving toward that economic
environment it does not at all mean we are cutting ourselves off other
economic environments. No one is forcing us. But since Armenia is a
small state and its security very much depends on Russia, we made a
choice in our own interests. That is, we considered the fact of 2.5
million Armenians living in Russia, economic ties and up to 500,000
Armenian citizens working in Russia."
With respect to the possibility of Armenia playing the role of a
bridge between the EEU and EU, Mr Abrahamyan said:
"If Armenia joins a union, it does not at all mean it cannot cooperate
with others. Armenia is a World Trade Organization member as well,
which does not mean all the agreements are invalid and we have to
cooperate with Russia alone. So everything depends on us. And we must
reject dogmatism."
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/10/araabrahamyan/1532251
20:12 * 10.12.14
President of the Union of Armenians in Russia and UNESCO Good Will
Ambassador Ara Abrahamyan does not rule out that the grave economic
situation in Russia will impede certain investments programs in
Armenia.
To serve as a bridge between the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and
the European Union (EU), Armenia should cooperate with all the sides.
"Mere talk will not build a bridge, even one between Armenia and
Russia. We must cooperate with all sides," Mr Abrahamyan told Tert.am.
As regards the impact of sanctions against Russia and the possibility
of an economic crisis in Armenia, he said:
"Any crisis would affect all the Russian citizens. But we are
well aware of one thing: we all must continue doing our business,
unite and rally round the authorities, to be able to cope with the
crisis without any panic. Russia saw similar economic situations in
different periods."
Armenia is Russia's political and economic partner, and Russia is
Armenia's best friend.
"It means that a crisis in Russia - and Russian and Armenian
economies are interrelated- may cause problems in Armenia. As a
result, the planned investments programs may not be implemented,"
Mr Abrahamyan said.
Most of the Armenian Parliament members voted for Armenia's accession
to the EEU. Can Armenia's political forces be said to be trying
to unite?
"I consider it normal that the treaty on Armenia's accession to
the EEU was almost unanimously approved because we are working with
Russia now. I do not know about a single proposal that is better than
accession to the EEU. We must not ignore Russia and our own interests."
As regards the claims that Armenia is moving toward an unstable
economic environment, with RUB depreciation affecting the Armenian
dram, Mr Abrahamyan said:
"What does 'unstable' mean? If we are moving toward that economic
environment it does not at all mean we are cutting ourselves off other
economic environments. No one is forcing us. But since Armenia is a
small state and its security very much depends on Russia, we made a
choice in our own interests. That is, we considered the fact of 2.5
million Armenians living in Russia, economic ties and up to 500,000
Armenian citizens working in Russia."
With respect to the possibility of Armenia playing the role of a
bridge between the EEU and EU, Mr Abrahamyan said:
"If Armenia joins a union, it does not at all mean it cannot cooperate
with others. Armenia is a World Trade Organization member as well,
which does not mean all the agreements are invalid and we have to
cooperate with Russia alone. So everything depends on us. And we must
reject dogmatism."
http://www.tert.am/en/news/2014/12/10/araabrahamyan/1532251