Sergey Minasyan: Processes connected with Customs Union and EU developing in parallel

Karen Ghazaryan
Public Radio of Armenia

The processes connected with the Customs Union and search for new formats of cooperation with the European Union are developing in parallel, Deputy Director of the Caucasus Institute Sergey Minasyan told reporters today. He has made the conclusion from Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan’s interview with the Lidové Noviny newspaper within the framework of the state visit to the Czech Republic.

Minasyan said Armenia has no clear notion of the terms of this new format of cooperation with the EU, as there is no clarity in terms of the timeframe of joining the Customs Union. All these issues are in the process of negotiations.

”The progress we register or the problems we face within the framework of the Customs Union will affect the cooperation with the EU,” he said.

On one hand, this makes it difficult for Armenia to “maneuver.” On the other hand, these two processes may provide an opportunity to find solutions to a number of issues, especially socio-political ones, Sergey Minasyan said. According to him, there can be interesting developments in the field of security, which is mainly connected with the decision to join the Customs union.

“If this really happens, it will have an unprecedented influence on the military balance in the region,” he said.