In 2013 the foreign policy challenge for the Armenian government is going to be the choice between Armenia’s membership to Belarus-Kazakhstan-Russia Custom’s Union or the deep and comprehensive trade zone agreement with the EU. The proof of this is the announcements by the EU representatives, that the EU free trade agreement cannot be compatible with the Customs’ Union.
Team leader of the EU advisory group to Armenia Mr. Willem van der Geest has himself expressed that point of view noting that Armenia cannot fully participate in the process of Eurasian integration, as few of its points contradict to the EU deep and comprehensive trade zone as well as to the agreements on visa facilitation. “The country becoming a member of the Customs’ union losses some of its sovereignty and the rules of the game change. That’s why membership to that institution is against the free trade relations with the EU”, he said.
Ukraine ambassador to the EU himself in one of the local publications noted, that post-Soviet Union countries, including Armenia and Ukraine can simultaneously be part of the EU free trade zone and a similar institution in the region , but they cannot be part of the Custom’s union.
The assistant of the Bulgarian politician, member of the EU foreign relations delegation Evgeni Kirilov, Girogi Sabev talked about this to the First News and Analyses. According to the Bulgarian delegate, the EU has shown readiness to cooperate with Armenia on the agreement on the EU free and comprehensive trade zone and the negotiation process has its results. “But the membership to the Customs union is the sovereign decision of the RA government”. Kirilov mentioned that he has his personal opinions about what will be more profitable for Armenia, but decided not to force his point of view on anybody.
