YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamian appeared to have acknowledged on Thursday a delay in Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
“Better late than never,” Abrahamian told reporters when asked about the Russian bloc’s anticipated failure to draft an accession treaty with Armenia by July 1.
The deadline was set by the presidents of the three EEU member states at a summit held in the Kazakh capital Astana on May 29.
“There were some issues or directions that had to be discussed. They are being discussed. Things will be clear after the July 3 meeting,” said Abrahamian.
“At any rate, I think that the process will progress. In terms of the time frame, there could be changes,” he added.
Abrahamian did not specify who will take part in that meeting. He similarly cited July 3 in comments to the press made late last week.
The Armenian government and President Serzh Sarkisian in particular had gone to great lengths to have the accession process completed by the end of April. Speaking at the subsequent Astana summit, Sarkisian asked his Russian, Kazakh and Belarusian counterparts ensure that the treaty is signed by June 15.
At least two of them, Kazakhstan’s Nursultan Nazarbayev and Belarus’s Aleksandr Lukashenko are clearly not enthusiastic about Armenia’s membership in the bloc. Nazarbayev made clear at Astana that the treaty with Yerevan must have a special provision about Armenia’s internationally recognized borders that do not encompass Nagorno-Karabakh.
In what could prove to be another obstacle to the success of Sarkisian’s membership bid, Russia’s First Deputy Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov said on Monday that Armenia will have to renegotiate the terms of its decade-long membership in the World Trade Organization and even “compensate” WTO member states after joining the EEU. The remarks were construed by some Armenian pundits as a sign that Moscow is also keen to delay the Armenian entry for now.
Now we have to isolate ourselves even more, pull out of the WTO and pay up for it as well. Thank you Russia. You do a good job of looking after your “strategic ally”.
you really need to stop your pro western propaganda. Armenia needs Russia, As Russia needs Armenia. Your propaganda only helps Armenia to the ground you state things without knowing facts and reality. You only say things that others have said you cant come with your own conclusions people like you are a big danger cause you are to easy to be manipulated.
I do not think it is appropriate to blame the russians for everything, Russia is not responsible for the deaths of Armenian soldiers. Those who are responsible for the deaths are Azeris and Armenians.
Armenia needs to stop balming others for their own mistakes, and wake up and face reality that there are enemy’s close to our borders which are preparing to kill us.
They should accept the fact that there is no heaven on earth and that the world is a global war zone, those who are strong,ignorant and brave survive those who are weak lose.
Bye the way blaming the Russians for everything , will do us no good, you probaly wont suffer the consequences for blaming Russia for everything becouse you dont live in Armenia. and you are not depended on Russia.
If you really want to help your country, you can donate for your country, study hard and invest in Armenia. We should let Armenians in Armenia deside their own fate, and those people who are living in rich luxury country’s have no right to give Armenia orders.
First Russia needs Armenia more than Azerbaijan why?
Becouse Azeris are Turks and Turks and Russian are enemy’s (history has shown)in case of a global war Turkey would probably attack Russia and guess what, Azerbaijan will not betray its Turkish brothers and will help Turkey against Russia.
Russia needs Armenia becouse Armenia is very reliable for Russia.
Giving weapons to Azerbaijan is one big political strategy, Azeris can also buy weapons from isreal and from the US but they prefer Russian weapons, which Russia makes profit from it and in the end of many possible scenarios it will again benefit Russians. cause those weapons are Russian made.
without Russia, the next day there will be no Armenia but only Turkey or Azerbaijan.
Armenia will get new modern weapons soon.
Armenia and Belarus are the only countrys in the world that can buy Russian weapons for a very cheap price, and thats something very importaned and good for us to keep in mind.
Nobody will grant our secuirty in case of Turkish invasion and nobody will offer weapons at that low prices.
Everytime we blame the Russians which is the true goal of the Turks/Azeris watch their news they happly state on their websites that their are tensions between Russia and Armenia, and instead their so-called relations is growing. Without oil Azerbaijan will be shit.
Why becouse Armenians cant think deep, not every thing is as it looks like.
Armenians will profit major from Euroasian costum union very cheap gas prices, diamonds and much more.
This hate that has been growing towards Russians will be a nother historical mistake, and we will in the end blame ourselfs again.
Armenia needs to find a balance between Russia and the west to have alternatives, but not to betray Russia
As if we didn’t see this coming. How stupid do we have to be to align ourselves with these backward mongrels. We rejected a lucrative deal with the West only to join a rag tag team of former KGB agents and dictatorial goons.
The only thing that will be clear after the July 3 meeting is that Mother Russia has already planned to pressure Armenia to give up Karabagh. And since we alienated the West, we have no choice now but to follow Mr. Putin’s every whim…
what a travesty! Armenia was minutes away from joining the EEU, and was bait-and-switched into this powerless, helpless situation. Further, it is now isolated from the west, and clearly a minor pawn in the east. The twin specters of virtual genocide recognition and the increasingly improbable defense of nagorno continue to choke to death the one country we have– soon to be “had.” Simply awful.
PRESIDENT OF KAZAKESTAN AN BELARUS ARE BOTH ASS KISSERS OF ALIEV. AND THAT S. O. B. AND PUTIN IS SELLING WEPONS TO AZERIS TO ATTACK ARMENIA WHAT KIND OF POLITIC IS THIS . WILL ALIEV USE ALL THOSE SMERCH AGAINST RUSSAN TROOP STATIONED IN ARMENIA. THER E IS NO FRIEND IN THIS WORD OF POLITICAL PROSTITUTS AND SELLOUTS
The Armenian Government must join the Eurasian Union as soon as possible, delay causes damage to the Armenian economy.
Amateurish, static, and rigid foreign policy. Total failure.
Well said.
There are no concrete ‘obstacles’ to Armenia’s accession… so no need to exaggerate things… the best ever move Armenia could’ve made thanks to President Sarkissian brilliant policy making!