Armenian MPs demand explanation on Customs Union

September 9, 2013 - 22:35 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The fall session of the Armenian National Assembly started Monday, Sept 9, with the demand on immediate inclusion of Armenia’s joining the Russia-led Customs Union in the parliament’s agenda.

Prosperous Armenia MP Naira Zohrabyan said the parliamentary commission on European integration has requested the NA speaker to invite representatives of the Foreign Ministry to report on the situation.

“Before making a decision, the issue should have been discussed in the parliament,” she said.

Armenian National Congress member Nikol Pashinyan, in turn, said that the statement made by President Serzh Sargsyan in Moscow and the visit of Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian to Brussels arouse a lot of questions. “The National Assemblywas left out of the process and possesses no information on what’s going on,” he said.

Head of Heritage parliamentary group Ruben Hakobyan emphasized that the discussion of the issue can’t be delayed.

As a PanARMENIAN.Net reporter has learned from the parliament’s press office, Foreign Minister Nalbandian will deliver a speech in the National Assembly on Tuesday.

During a Sept 3 meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, President Sargsyan said Armenia is ready to join Customs Union, with further plans to be involved in formation of Eurasian Economic Union, thus arousing indignation of European officials.

However, later the European Commission said that the Association Agreement (including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with Armenia can be compatible with economic cooperation with the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Eastern Partnership

The Eastern Partnership (EaP) is the first comprehensive initiative introduced into the system of the European Union’s external relations, addressed to Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. The Eastern Partnership is designed to help the countries of Eastern Europe and South Caucasus with their approximation to and integration with the European Union. The EaP has injected a new quality into relations between the EU and the countries covered by the initiative through their gradual integration with the European Union.