Navasardyan: Hard to say if Armenia to become EEU member on October 10

Armenia was not a founding member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), while the issue of joining the Customs Union lost its relevance. Boris Navasardyan - President of the Yerevan Press Club, coordinator of the Armenian national platform of Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum - expressed this opinion at a meeting with reporters today.

“The Customs Union dissolved in Eurasian Economic Union and the entry into CU means becoming EEU member. It is hard to say whether Armenia will become EEU member on October 10 because Kazakhstan is not very happy with Armenia’s membership,” Navasardyan noted.

In his words, there are some problems between Russia and Kazakhstan, and Kazakhstan’s aspiration to develop as a sovereign state contradicts somewhat the very essence of the EEU.

“The president of Kazakhstan is trying to become involved in alternative projects: Kazakhstan participates in three different integration processes. It is doubtful that it would like Armenia to join the EEU because Russia’s vote will double after Armenia’s entry”, Navasardyan said.

As regards Russia, Navasardyan expressed an opinion that Armenia’s accession to EEU was a matter of principle to Russia last year when it was necessary to ruin the signing of Armenia’s Association Agreement with the European Union.

Commenting on the Nagorno Karabakh Republic’s status in case of Armenia’s entry into EEU, Boris Navasardyan said the issue of Karabakh is not on the agenda now.

“The issue will be considered in the future. It is clear that the NKR will not be part of the EEU. But it is still not clear what will exist on the border of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh,” he said.