YEREVAN. – Even in the best case scenario, Armenia will not enter into the Customs Union (CU) prior to January 1, 2015 because there are many issues to resolve. 

Ruling Republican Party (RPA) MP Vardan Ayvazyan, who is also Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Economic Affairs, stated the above-said at a press conference on Friday.

“It will be very good if we manage to enter into the common Customs Union domain by January 1,” he noted.  

The RPA MP also commented on the rumors that Armenia should import products from Russia solely after becoming a CU member.

“There is no such a thing. It’s not [dependent] on the Russians’ permission; it’s [dependent on] our wanting.
“Our state is a sovereign state, and we can import [natural] gas and oil from Iran; the only problem here is the price,” Ayvazyan noted, in particular.

Following the talks that were held on September 3, 2013 in Moscow between Armenian and Russian Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin, Sargsyan had announced that Armenia plans to join the Customs Union and subsequently engage in the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union. In December 2013, the “roadmap” for Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union was adopted. And in January of this year, the Government of Armenia approved the action plan for the implementation of this “roadmap.” The formal joining is expected in May. Aside from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan likewise are members in the Customs Union.