Boris Navasardyan: Armenia-EaEU cooperation cannot be deemed failure

The initiative to set up the Eurasian Economic Union (EaEU) cannot be deemed a failure as the three founding states – Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have already signed an agreement, and there is still uncertainty as to Armenia’s accession to EaEU, President of Yerevan Press Club Boris Navasardyan told journalists today.

“We cannot consider the cooperation an outright failure since the discussions among the three states – I mean Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus – are still underway,” Navasardyan noted.

According to him, the reasons of uncertainty are obvious.

“Firstly, unlike Russia and other countries of the Union, Armenia is a member of the World Trade Organization. By joining the Union, Armenia will have to compensate for losses to be sustained by the organization’s member states due to a rise in tariffs, which is a considerable sum. This issue should be solved: who will pay the compensation and how, based on what principles,” Navasardyan said.

In his opinion, since a decision about Armenia’s entry into EaEU has been made, Armenia should cooperate with Moscow and convince the partners that it will honor the obligations assumed.