YEREVAN. – Armenian president’s decision to join the Customs Union is in the interests of the country, MP from ruling Republican Party of Armenia said.

Mkrtich Minasyan said that this decision is related to national security issue which is the most important thing. He is hopeful that European officials will be able to understand that there is not only Western but also Eastern civilization, and they have to move forward by comparison, not opposition.

However, MP thinks that a document enabling Armenia to continue deepening its cooperation with the EU will be adopted, with certain reservations, during the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius which will be attended by a delegation headed by the Armenian president.

As to national security issues, Mkrtchyan pointed not only to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, but also “neighbors with whom we have the age-old problem.”

“We need to realize that Armenia and Russia are strategic partners. That is, the cooperation is beneficial to both Armenia and Russia. The latter has interests in the South and the North Caucasus. This is a mutually beneficial relationship,” he explained.

Speaking about the economic component, the MP noted that Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union will allow it to more actively use the market of Russia and Customs Union member states. According to him, it will make the Armenian products even more competitive.