Expert: Armenia’s decision to join Customs Union not end of game

In choosing between the Customs Union and the European Union, Armenia gave preference to the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Director of Caucasus Institute, political scientist Alexander Iskandarian told a press conference today, when commenting on the results of the Armenian and Russian presidents’ meeting in Moscow yesterday.

In his words, joining the Customs Union is not yet the end of the game: “I think it is the continuation, if not the start. I don’t think that all opportunities have been exhausted. In my opinion, the Armenian authorities will continue the “and-and” political course.
“Of course, Russia can put some pressure on the countries involved in the Vilnius process, particularly, on Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia, and get some results. The pressure levers lie in the economic, financial, and communications spheres. Armenia differs from these countries in that yet another format exists for it: our security which is of importance to us. We should take into account the security factor – the CSTO acts as such a factor for us. Therefore as soon as security-related problems arise, the opportunities of a choice come to naught. The Armenian authorities couldn’t but take it into account,” Iskandarian said.

He expressed an opinion that what happened yesterday is a result of the political process, in which Armenia has tried for four years to achieve some options of interaction with both the EU and the Customs Union.

We would remind you that during the September 3 talks in Moscow, the presidents of Armenia and Russia – Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin discussed the state and prospects of bilateral allied cooperation and issues of foreign-policy interaction. The two presidents confirmed the intention of Yerevan and Moscow to further develop the economic integration processes in the Eurasian space.

In accordance with a joint statement, President Sargsyan stated about the decision of the Republic of Armenia to join the Customs Union and take all the necessary practical steps for this purpose and subsequently to take part in the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. Russian President Putin supported that decision of the Republic of Armenia and expressed the Russian side’s willingness to assist the process in every way.