S. Kocharian: Armenia ready for initialing Association Agreement

Only after the talks are held, it will become clear whether Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union will prevent the initialing of the Association Agreement with the EU, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharian told reporters following the government session today.

“Armenia is ready for the initialing of the Association Agreement with the EU. It is of importance to us because huge work has been done together with Europe in that direction, with serious achievements being recorded,” Kocharian said.

As regards Armenia’s entry into the Customs Union, Shavarsh Kocharian denied at first that he had previously said that “after joining the Customs Union, Armenia will lose its sovereignty”. “I didn’t say such a thing,” Kocharian noted.

In his words, after becoming a member of the Customs Union, Armenia will somewhat lack sovereignty of independent decisions – like Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan – regarding quotas, the custom policy, etc. “This is natural and is related to the customs policy. The supreme body has the right to make decisions on the indicated issues,” Kocharian said.

At the same time he noted that in case of joining the Customs Union, a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement will be incompatible and may not be signed.

As regards the absence of a common border with the Customs Union member states, Shavarsh Kocharian assured those present that a beneficial option will be found through negotiations. The deputy minister didn’t clarify what option he meant, noting that information about it will be provided soon.