Armenian president: We cannot isolate ourselves from region we live in

From the very beginning of negotiations, we came to an agreement with our European colleagues that our relations with the EU will develop not at the expense of relations with our allies, but will complement each other. It was mutual understanding for over three years. I regret that our colleagues in the EU thought that a free trade agreement would be incompatible with the Customs Union,” Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said when responding to questions of MPs at the session of the PACE in Strasbourg.

He assured those present that Yerevan did not deviate from its course. “The Customs Union is a number of states, rather than Russia. I consider it pointless to speak of any pressure exerted by Russia concerning out decision. We ourselves expressed such a wish, looking at simple reality. For over 20 years we have lived in a security system that includes countries of the Customs Union. We cannot isolate ourselves from the economic and geographical region we live in. Nevertheless, we will continue close cooperation with the EU,” Serzh Sargsyan stated.