YEREVAN. – We are not forced to join the Customs Union (CU), but we are obligated to some extent to join the CU because we have a security and trade relations matter.  

Ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) MP Lernik Aleksanyan said the aforementioned at a press conference on Tuesday.

“Today, are we [i.e., Armenia] able and prepared to conduct trade with Europe as equals? We have a track-record in trade with Russia, and politics is condensed economics.

“If we are entering the Customs Union, this never undermines the adoption of European values. [And] Europe likewise comprehends that we—and not solely we—are obligated to some extent,” Aleksanyan added. 

The RPA MP noted that although no one can yet know a lot about the CU because it is at the initial phase of its formation, Armenia needs to take as much from it as the interests of the country need.    

In Aleksanyan’s view, Armenia’s first steps taken toward CU accession are correct.  

The MP also accepted that history has witnessed Russian-Turkish alliances against Armenia, but Aleksanyan does not believe that such alliances continue nowadays.

“But there were Armenia’s mistakes, too, and conclusions should be drawn from them. We need to factor in these alliances and mistakes, alike,” Lernik Aleksanyan argued.