YEREVAN. – Even though numerous processes are still needed for accession to the Customs Union, Armenia already politically behaves as a full member in this organization, 168 Zham daily reports.  

“This was best expressed yesterday [i.e., Monday] during the CSTO [i.e., the Collective Security Treaty Organization] Council’s regular session that was held in Sochi [, Russia].

“First, before the start of this event, Armenia’s President Serzh Sargsyan met with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko, which can be considered symbolic in the context of the Armenian authorities’ statements on continuing European integration.   

“And during the meeting with the heads of the CSTO member states, Serzh Sargsyan asked for the assistance of the organization members, to receive an observer member status in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

“Thus, aside from accession to the Customs Union, Armenia wishes to receive an observer member status in an organization whose virtually all members have a clear anti-European and anti-Western stance,” 168 Zham writes.