The talks on the new  agreement with the EU will be completed in the near future.

Foreign Minister of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, said the aforementioned at an interview during “Nemtsova.Interview” program of DW. 

According to Nalbandian, Armenian will in the near future be able to announce that the talks are completed. This new agreement will reflect the depth, volume and level of relations, which Armenia is already developing with the EU, as well as the prospects and possibilities, which both sides—EU and Armenia—have in mind in terms of future partnership in the most diverse spheres and dimensions, which are possible with the EU, Nalbandian added.

Responding to the question as to whether Moscow minds the conclusion of that agreement, the Armenian FM said that it is inherent in Armenia’s strategic ally relations with Russia not to initiate something that would be against the development of bilateral ties with allies, partners, strategic partners, thus he doesn’t think there might be, are or can be any objections.

Referring to the situation where it was not possible to sign the previous agreement with the EU, this coinciding with Armenian President’s visit to Russia, Nalbandian said this not exactly this way.

According to him, Armenia held talks with the EU and was actually at the final stage of cooperation. However, he also noted that Armenia always stated that it would like to be included in the Customs Union, and when the things came to creating the EAEU, Armenia always said it wished to join it. But at the same time, there were certain objections on that this might be difficult to carry out since Armenia has no common border with the EAEU, and it is simply impossible to be in one Customs Union having no such borders, he added. Thus, a relevant working group of experts was set up, who studied the situation and concluded that Armenia’s participation in the Customs Union and EAEU which was created then was still possible.

Apart from this, Nalbandian noted that in the relations with Russia and all other countries, Armenia stands for as close and solid relations as possible.  Referring to the EU, the FM noted that Armenia repeatedly stated about this as early as when exchanging relevant letters with  High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton during the Vilnius Summit of the Eastern Partnership in November 2013, following which a statement was made jointly with the EU.

Afterwards, when Armenia launched talks with High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini on the new agreement between EU and Armenia, the country precisely stated that it intends to develop its relations in both directions, going as far and deep as possible in their relations, cooperation and partnership and taking into consideration the obligations of Armenia in other international integration processes. Thus, everything is apparent here, Nalbandian concluded.