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CUSTOMS UNION DOOMED TO FAILURE - ARMENIAN MP
21:35 * 12.02.14
MP Alexander Arzumanyan, Board member of the Armenian National Movement
(ANM) party, has commented on the "European package" discussed in
Brussels.
According to him, nothing can be said now as neither Armenia nor the
European Union has a clear idea. Arzumanyan points out the need for
a new format of Armenia-EU relations. The Customs Union is a dream,
which has no future.
Mr Arzumanyan, NGOs have no idea of the European package, which
was discussed in Brussels and outlines the prospects for the Eastern
Partnership (EaP) member-states -Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,
Moldova, and Ukraine. Are you generally informed of the package?
Nothing is clear yet, the process is not transparent. The sides are
obviously seeking to continue the process, and the lack of transparency
gives rise to doubts. And, as you have mentioned, a number of the
Forum of Civil Society Organizations are outside of the process.
And what about the package being intended for 13 states? Does it mean
the cooperation is not going to be at the expected level? That is,
a 'collective' document for all the member-states. Or a new document
may be needed to replace the Armenia-EU document signed back in 1999.
It is obviously an out-of-date document. Something new is needed,
and this new thing is Europe or the idea of the European Union, an
Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
Agreement. This process has failed, as we have to find a new format
of relations. But nothing can yet be said now as neither Armenia
nor the European Union has a clear idea. No one has any idea of what
course we are going to take. All that you have mentioned is nothing
but declarations, wishes. However, a parallel process involving the
Customs Union is ongoing, with hundreds of documents being prepared.
Time will show the fate of the documents and the possibility of their
being in conflict with our commitments to the European Union.
Have you scrutinized the roadmap for Armenia's accession to the
Customs Union? And what you have mentioned at from the roadmap - losing
sovereignty, possible transition to the Russian currency and so on -
in the context of your previous statements. When may it happen if it
does at all?
Our international partners are now raising the problems we may face.
Specifically, in our relations with the World Trade Organization
(WTO) because, after intense negotiations, we proved to be among
the first former Soviet states to join the WTO, whereas Russia had
been seeking WTO membership for years. And now we are going to yield
this all to a superstate, with Kazakh and Belarusian officials to
negotiate on behalf of Armenia. It is unacceptable and in conflict
with Armenia's Constitution, to say nothing of other agreements
under which we are to lose many of our sovereign powers. Economists
can make a clear assessment. As to the talks about the ruble zone,
they are one more piece of evidence of the threats that existed even
during the negotiations. Even discussions of Armenia's joining the
ruble zone are unacceptable.
The roadmap envisages hundreds of amendments to laws and so on. Do
you think Armenia's laws, which are considered progressive, will
experience regress?
The laws will be submitted to the parliament and we will discuss them.
But there are conflicts. Our trade regime is much more liberal and
needs to be conformed to Russia's trade regime. If we do not act with
reason, it may have serious political consequences.
The world is dynamically changing, and the Customs Union is doomed
to failure. It is more important for us to build up a normal state in
Armenia, a strong and democratic state, which would be able to decide
in favor or against ceding part of its sovereignty, cooperating with
some nations or others. The Customs Union is an illusion produced by
a great empire's ambitions. It will never become a reality.
Armenian News - Tert.am
21:35 * 12.02.14
MP Alexander Arzumanyan, Board member of the Armenian National Movement
(ANM) party, has commented on the "European package" discussed in
Brussels.
According to him, nothing can be said now as neither Armenia nor the
European Union has a clear idea. Arzumanyan points out the need for
a new format of Armenia-EU relations. The Customs Union is a dream,
which has no future.
Mr Arzumanyan, NGOs have no idea of the European package, which
was discussed in Brussels and outlines the prospects for the Eastern
Partnership (EaP) member-states -Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia,
Moldova, and Ukraine. Are you generally informed of the package?
Nothing is clear yet, the process is not transparent. The sides are
obviously seeking to continue the process, and the lack of transparency
gives rise to doubts. And, as you have mentioned, a number of the
Forum of Civil Society Organizations are outside of the process.
And what about the package being intended for 13 states? Does it mean
the cooperation is not going to be at the expected level? That is,
a 'collective' document for all the member-states. Or a new document
may be needed to replace the Armenia-EU document signed back in 1999.
It is obviously an out-of-date document. Something new is needed,
and this new thing is Europe or the idea of the European Union, an
Association Agreement and a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area
Agreement. This process has failed, as we have to find a new format
of relations. But nothing can yet be said now as neither Armenia
nor the European Union has a clear idea. No one has any idea of what
course we are going to take. All that you have mentioned is nothing
but declarations, wishes. However, a parallel process involving the
Customs Union is ongoing, with hundreds of documents being prepared.
Time will show the fate of the documents and the possibility of their
being in conflict with our commitments to the European Union.
Have you scrutinized the roadmap for Armenia's accession to the
Customs Union? And what you have mentioned at from the roadmap - losing
sovereignty, possible transition to the Russian currency and so on -
in the context of your previous statements. When may it happen if it
does at all?
Our international partners are now raising the problems we may face.
Specifically, in our relations with the World Trade Organization
(WTO) because, after intense negotiations, we proved to be among
the first former Soviet states to join the WTO, whereas Russia had
been seeking WTO membership for years. And now we are going to yield
this all to a superstate, with Kazakh and Belarusian officials to
negotiate on behalf of Armenia. It is unacceptable and in conflict
with Armenia's Constitution, to say nothing of other agreements
under which we are to lose many of our sovereign powers. Economists
can make a clear assessment. As to the talks about the ruble zone,
they are one more piece of evidence of the threats that existed even
during the negotiations. Even discussions of Armenia's joining the
ruble zone are unacceptable.
The roadmap envisages hundreds of amendments to laws and so on. Do
you think Armenia's laws, which are considered progressive, will
experience regress?
The laws will be submitted to the parliament and we will discuss them.
But there are conflicts. Our trade regime is much more liberal and
needs to be conformed to Russia's trade regime. If we do not act with
reason, it may have serious political consequences.
The world is dynamically changing, and the Customs Union is doomed
to failure. It is more important for us to build up a normal state in
Armenia, a strong and democratic state, which would be able to decide
in favor or against ceding part of its sovereignty, cooperating with
some nations or others. The Customs Union is an illusion produced by
a great empire's ambitions. It will never become a reality.
Armenian News - Tert.am