The Federation Council of the Russian Federation hopes that the Eurasian Economic Union’s (EaEU) establishment on January 1, 2015 will contribute to the development of the domestic markets of the member countries.

Vladimir Jabarov, who is First Deputy Chairman of the Council’s Foreign Relations Committee, expressed the hope that new countries will join the EaEU.

“Now there are four countries; Armenia joined [Russia, Kazakhstan, and Belarus],” Jabarov stated expressing the hope that the Armenian parliament will soon ratify the EaEU accession treaty that was signed on Friday, TASS reported.

In his words, however, the other former Soviet republics likewise should not be disregarded with respect to this integration process.

“In addition, relations with Azerbaijan likewise are developing well, and we hope to have constructive cooperation in this direction.

“If, despite the long-standing conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan takes such a decision [i.e., EaEU accession], this will be the way for this conflict’s settlement, when the two countries [, Armenia and Azerbaijan,] will be included together in one economic union,” the Russian Federation Council member argued.