YEREVAN. – Russia-led Customs Union is not a free trade zone, but Russian trade zone, political analyst said.

Richard Giragosian, Director of the Regional Studies Center, in fact did not sign anything in Moscow on September 3.

“The goal of Moscow meeting was more to say ‘no’ to EU, than saying ‘yes’ to Customs Union. But to be fair, we must admit that no one has seen the Association Agreement and agreement on free trade area,” Giragosyan noted.

The concerns are not over joining Customs Union but the way how the decision was made, he emphasized. The negative and positive outcome of the decision will be seen in future.

“However, it is clear there are legal and constitutional obstacles to Armenia’s accession to Customs Union,” the expert noted.

 Giragosian is convinced that, in terms of economic benefits, EU and European market can offer Armenia more than Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.