YEREVAN. – Turning down the European Union (EU) and the Customs Union, and becoming a bridge between these two organizations would have been the best option for Armenia.  

Political scientist Yervand Bozoyan stated the above-said at a press conference on Monday.

“Had it not caused resentment by Russia, Armenia could have avoided entering the [Russian-led] Customs Union. Armenia should have continued to pursue a policy of complementarity, and become a pathway between these two organizations,” Bozoyan said.   

As per the political scientist, Armenian-Russian relations were strategic in the 1990s, whereas they deteriorated in the 2000s.  

The analyst expressed a conviction that, ten years ago, Armenia accepted the fact that Russia was its strategic partner yet it was trying to expand relations with western countries. 

“Russia had a very negative attitude toward the [EU] Association Agreement, as a result of which a doubt surfaced in Armenian-Russian relations. Therefore [Armenia President] Serzh Sargsyan was compelled to announce, in September of last year, about the [country’s] entry into the Customs Union, so as not to lose its strategic partner,” Yervand Bozoyan maintained.

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am