YEREVAN. – 168 Zham daily spoke with US Ambassador to Armenia, John Heffern, the daily reports.

In response to the query as to whether Armenia’s projected accession to the Customs Union would have a negative impact on Western investments to the country, the ambassador specifically stated: 

“Armenia has not withdrawn from the European path, and Europe likewise has not declined from cooperation with Armenia. Both sides want to do their utmost to cooperate, which is not incompatible with the Customs Union.   

“So, I am confident that Armenia will continue its cooperation with the European Union and the United States, to the extent that it would be compatible with the Customs Union.

“The United States wants to be visible as Armenia’s constructive partner and friend. And we stand ready to provide resources, investments, so that the close friendship would be continuous.

“Armenia, as a sovereign state, must choose its own path, and no one plans to take that sovereignty away from Armenia.

“And the US will encourage so that Armenia would continue to ‘use’ the West, follow the West, and take [from the West] the values that are important to it. We will continue to encourage so that Armenia would choose the European path.” 

To note, following the talks that were held on September 3 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. Aside from Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan likewise are members in the Customs Union. And in response to this development, the European Union had stated that the signing of the Armenia-EU Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement is now doubtful.