YEREVAN. – Armenia should manage to explain Europeans that our economy is not in a condition to join their sanctions and we must continue trade and economic ties with Russia and EU at the same level, economist Vahagn Khachatryan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

In a statement issued on Friday, EU Council said “in order to ensure the unity of the international community and to uphold international law, the European Union expects third and candidate countries to refrain from measures which are aimed at exploiting new trading opportunities arising from the introduction of these measures”.

While changing foreign policy line from EU association to Eurasian Economic Union, the Armenian authorities failed to see what was in the interests of Armenia, said Khachatryan who is a member of opposition ANC party.

He noted that the Armenian leadership simply made a decision in accordance with that particular moment and made no moves targeted to the future.

“Now we find ourselves in a situation when we either have to obey the call of EU or not. To obey means that we have to participate in sanctions against Russia, otherwise we will lose subordination help Europe. From my personal point of view, we should refrain from any drastic steps, taking into account economic ties with Russia, the presence of Russian capital in Armenia, as well as the fact that our people earn their living in Russia,” he concluded.