YEREVAN. – Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan made sure that Russia give a guarantee and an “advance payment,” to enter the Customs Union, that Armenia’s nuclear plant will be built, and the natural gas price and the electricity grid will be regulated.       

Sociologist Aharon Adibekyan noted the abovementioned during a press conference on Saturday.

In his words, about two dozen Russian companies are already in Armenia and they are looking for investment opportunities in the country. 

“In addition, his address at PACE [i.e., the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe] showed that Serzh Sargsyan has reached his objective. Despite not signing the [Armenia-EU] Association Agreement, he hopes that another document will be signed which will bring the Europe-Armenia relationship closer,” Adibekyan noted.    

The sociologist added that NATO cannot ensure Armenia’s security because NATO is Turkey’s military partner, whereas Armenia is under Russia’s “shield.”   

He noted that Russia is the largest investor in Armenia and added that if Europe wanted to see Armenia in its ranks, it should have increased its investments in the country. 

As per Aharon Adibekyan, it is likely that the EU will knock on the Customs Union doors years later and say: “Please accept me in your ranks, since the energy resources [of ours] have depleted, we have no electricity and are cold.”     

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.   

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am