YEREVAN. – It is ruled out that Armenia will initial the EU Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement in the forthcoming Eastern Partnership Summit to be held in the Lithuanian capital city Vilnius.  

Opposition Heritage Party Board Secretary Stiopa Safaryan, who is also member of the opposition “Barev [Hello], Yerevan” faction in capital city Yerevan Council of Elders, said the abovementioned during a press conference on Monday.

Safaryan noted that Armenia-EU relations have deteriorated, especially after when the EU recalled that Armenia has not fulfilled numerous commitments.  

Also, the September 3 announcement and the subsequent events have shown that the changes in the balance of power will substantially impact Armenia’s security.

According to Heritage’s official, the present-day tense situation on the line of contact is not accidental.

He also expressed a view that Armenia must find ways to retract its authorities’ decision to join the Customs Union.   

“The Customs Union will give us nothing; we should seek avenues beyond it,” Stiopa Safaryan argued.

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.        

Photo by Arsen Sargsyan/NEWS.am