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WPS Agency, Russia
August 13, 2012 Monday
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
by: Goar Karapetjan
Source: Novye Izvestia, No 43, August 13, 2012, p. 3
ARMENIA MIGHT BE GRANTED MEMBERSHIP IN THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC ZONE
DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF COMMON BORDER WITH OTHER MEMBER STATES; Will
Armenia join the Customs Union?
Russian Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin said that Moscow intended to
consider making Armenia a member of the Eurasian economic zone. This
country has been an observer since 2003, any other status denied it on
account of there being no common borders with founders of the
international union.
Attitude toward integration within the Commonwealth in Armenia remains
definitely equivocal. Very many regard this integration as a threat to
national sovereignty. Sergei Minasjan, Assistant Director of the
Caucasus Media Institute, upholds different views. He is convinced
that the cost of the project is the only threat posed by the Eurasian
Economic Community. "The cost is going to be colossal but Russia is
prepared to underwrite it," he said.
In any event, there are certain obstacles standing between Armenia and
membership in the Eurasian economic union Russia means to establish.
First and foremost, Armenia lacks borders with other member states. It
has Azerbaijan on one side, a country it is at odds with over
Nagorno-Karabakh. On the other side, it has Georgia that will have
nothing at all to do with Russia or any projects Russia might suggest.
It follows that there is essentially no point in trying to coordinate
customs policy with Armenia.
Gagik Minasjan, deputy of the National Assembly or parliament, is of
the opinion that Armenia ought to value its current status and aspire
to nothing more than that, at least for the time being. "It is its
status that keeps Armenia updated on the latest developments. It is
this status of observer that assures Armenia is not going to miss the
most convenient moment for joining the Customs Union," he said.
Some experts maintain that Armenia's membership in the Customs Union
will establish a free trade zone and remove the existing barriers and
change customs duties. They say that it will have a thoroughly
positive effect on market competition in Armenia and restrict the
existing monopolies.
On the other hand, experts point out that closer economic integration
between Armenia and CIS countries might impair development of its
relations with the European Union. Gagik Minasjan disagreed with it...
and so did Naryshkin. Duma chairman said on a visit to Yerevan that
Armenia's close economic integration with post-Soviet countries would
only promote its relations with the European Union.
The parliament of Armenia is supposed to consider ratification of the
CIS free trade zone at its autumn session.
[Translated from Russian]
From: Baghdasarian
August 13, 2012 Monday
POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY
by: Goar Karapetjan
Source: Novye Izvestia, No 43, August 13, 2012, p. 3
ARMENIA MIGHT BE GRANTED MEMBERSHIP IN THE EURASIAN ECONOMIC ZONE
DESPITE THE ABSENCE OF COMMON BORDER WITH OTHER MEMBER STATES; Will
Armenia join the Customs Union?
Russian Duma Chairman Sergei Naryshkin said that Moscow intended to
consider making Armenia a member of the Eurasian economic zone. This
country has been an observer since 2003, any other status denied it on
account of there being no common borders with founders of the
international union.
Attitude toward integration within the Commonwealth in Armenia remains
definitely equivocal. Very many regard this integration as a threat to
national sovereignty. Sergei Minasjan, Assistant Director of the
Caucasus Media Institute, upholds different views. He is convinced
that the cost of the project is the only threat posed by the Eurasian
Economic Community. "The cost is going to be colossal but Russia is
prepared to underwrite it," he said.
In any event, there are certain obstacles standing between Armenia and
membership in the Eurasian economic union Russia means to establish.
First and foremost, Armenia lacks borders with other member states. It
has Azerbaijan on one side, a country it is at odds with over
Nagorno-Karabakh. On the other side, it has Georgia that will have
nothing at all to do with Russia or any projects Russia might suggest.
It follows that there is essentially no point in trying to coordinate
customs policy with Armenia.
Gagik Minasjan, deputy of the National Assembly or parliament, is of
the opinion that Armenia ought to value its current status and aspire
to nothing more than that, at least for the time being. "It is its
status that keeps Armenia updated on the latest developments. It is
this status of observer that assures Armenia is not going to miss the
most convenient moment for joining the Customs Union," he said.
Some experts maintain that Armenia's membership in the Customs Union
will establish a free trade zone and remove the existing barriers and
change customs duties. They say that it will have a thoroughly
positive effect on market competition in Armenia and restrict the
existing monopolies.
On the other hand, experts point out that closer economic integration
between Armenia and CIS countries might impair development of its
relations with the European Union. Gagik Minasjan disagreed with it...
and so did Naryshkin. Duma chairman said on a visit to Yerevan that
Armenia's close economic integration with post-Soviet countries would
only promote its relations with the European Union.
The parliament of Armenia is supposed to consider ratification of the
CIS free trade zone at its autumn session.
[Translated from Russian]
From: Baghdasarian