The countries joining Customs Union, including Armenia, will have to give away part of their sovereignty to supranational bodies, Russian Ambassador to Armenia said.

In an interview with RFE/RL’s Armenian service Ivan Volynkin assured that Armenia will not lose its independence after joining the Customs Union, adding that it would not be a return to the Soviet Union.

“The Soviet Union is a thing of the past, and there will be no return to the Soviet Union with its positive and negative sides. I am absolutely certain that there will be no new USSR,” Volynkin told RFE/RL’s Armenian service.

“These states will not lose their sovereignty in full. But they will undoubtedly have to give away part of their sovereignty to supranational bodies. This is what happens in all integration processes in the world.”

Ambassador Volynkin noted that after forming European alliance some of EU countries even “sacrificed some sectors of their industry and agriculture.”

“By the way, the Customs Union does not require such sacrifices. Moreover, Armenia’s industry and agriculture will receive an additional impetus for development and use of the Eurasian market,” added the diplomat.