Armenia ready to sign agreement with Customs Union unless in conflict with national interests

16:10 • 12.09.13

Armenian Parliament Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan held a meeting with journalists on Thursday. He stated that Armenia will not sign an agreement with the Customs Union if it runs counter to Armenia’s national interests.
 
“We are not captives. This is a draft document. The National Assembly may not vote for it,” Abrahamyan said.

As regards the claims that the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh’s recognition was on the negotiating table, he said: “It is not the fact. The accession to the Customs Union will inaugurate a major process. We have to discuss agreements.” Armenia will continue cooperation with the European Union (EU), Abrahamyan added.

“Russia has never said that we cannot develop our relations with Russia. We are an independent state and it is our authorities that deal with foreign policy issues. We will continue cooperating with the EU and implementing reforms in Armenia. We will continue meetings with the EU that meet Armenia’s interests,” he said.

In response to a remark concerning European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy Štefan Füle’s statement that Armenia’s European partners have not such intentions, Abrahamyan said: “It is up to him. They say there are differences. We will discuss and the differences may be settled. We want our country to progress.”

Asked if Armenia intends to initial an Association Agreement, he said, “Time will show.”

Abrahamyan clarified that the sides discussed the Association Agreement, while a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement is a different issue. “We say that the Customs Union is not in conflict with the Association Agreement. Armenia’s authorities are inclined to initialing the Association Agreement,” he said.

With respect to high-ranking European officials’ strong-worded statements on Russian pressure on Armenia, Abrahamyan said: “I did not see any pressure on Russia’s part. No one forced us into joining the Customs Union.”
 

Armenian News - Tert.am

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