YEREVAN—Turkey’s Economy Minister’s announcement late last week that Turkey would like to join the Eurasian Economic Union has raised eyebrows with official Yerevan, which said an unequivocal ‘no’ at the idea.
On Friday, Turkey’s Economy Minister Nyhat Zeybekci announced his country’s intention to sign a customs agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union on the creation of a free trade zone. He said that it was Ankara’s hope to complete relevant discussion by year’s end, reported RIA Novosti.
“A free trade agreement between Russia and Turkey will lead to a new level of partnership,” Zeybekci was quoted as saying at a business forum in Izmir.
Armenia’s Foreign Ministry was quick to point out that any agreement to join the EEU required the agreement of all member-states. Armenia joined the EEU in 2015.
Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Shavarsh Kocharyan on Saturday took to Twitter to reiterate his ministry’s position and to call Turkey’s posturing ridiculous.
“It is absurd that Turkey, which unilaterally closed its border with Armenia [in 1993]—the only land border between Turkey and the EEU—speaks about joining the customs territory of the EEU,” Kocharyan emphasized.
Turkey closed its borders with Armenia in 1993 as a show of solidarity with Azerbaijan, which was embroiled in and later lost the Artsakh war. Turkey has also not recognized Armenia as an independent state.
This is between Mother Russia and Turkey. Rejection from the Armenian Oblast is of no consequence to the Mother.
THE IDEA FOR JOINING TURKEY TO EURO\ASIAN ECONOMIC UNION IS ABSOLUTELY RIDICULES.
“Ankara’s hope to complete relevant discussion by year’s end” What’s the Hurry? Turkey is running out of time in politics and policy’s!
Turkey:
Before any application process, consider opening the border with Armenia; otherwise stay where you are
Opening the border will hurt Armenia, it should be not before recognizing Turkey the Genocide.
very bad idea. turkey do not belong to this union
This is vapor ware into thin air. Naturally they can join, or wish , or show desire , to join anyone and anywhere. Joining the Eurasian union, whilst they have a pending application to join the EU is a non sequitur. Besides quite a number of conditions must be fulfilled before this is even contemplated. The border staying close favors Armenia . An open border would be very risky for the young state, hemmed in between two turkish states and without a common border with Mother Russia it is a recipe for progressive dissolution of the nation.. Also it would not serve the geostrategic interestss of Mother Russia to have a nascent Pan turanian conclave reaching into Central Asia. Armenia acts as a buffer for Russia against pan turanian designs and grandiose dreams.In exchange Armenia retains her sovereignty and most importantl;y her identity, and structure as a nation state.
Once upon a time turks promised to join the soviet revolution, back then we lost 2/3 of our territory. The only change they had is the color of the red flag and bunch of broken promises. Mongolo-tatars can’t be trusted.