When Armenia joins Customs Union Azerbaijan will say good bye to NKR: political expert

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 24, ARMENPRESS։ After Armenia joins the Customs Union an opportunity opens for Armenia to settle not only the Nagorno Karabakh conflict issue, but also the Nakhchivan issue. Such opinion was expressed by the political expert Levon Shirinyan at the press conference. According to him, Azerbaijan will be obliged to say good bye to the Nagorno Karabakh.“We all know that the Nakhchivan AutonomousRepublic was passed to Azerbaijan as a protectorate. Thus, there is no legal basis to give it to Azerbaijan. We should speak out about it and demand to return it. Armenia needs Nakhchivan”, - said Levon Shirinyan, as reported by Armenpress.

The political expert is certain that Russia can mediate in the settlement of many issues and Armenia can get a benefit from that. “Recently the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin managed to suspend the USA’s wish to attack Syria, quoting an argument – the international right. It is clear that now Russia is a dictating country and might give solutions to many of the Armenia’s issues”, - said Levon Shirinyan.

In the result of the negotiations on September 3, 2013 in Moscow the Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin confirmed the aim of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation in the direction of further development of economic integration processes in the Eurasian territory. In that context the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan announced about the Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union and the necessity of implementation corresponding steps for that aim and in future about participating in formation of the Eurasian economic union. The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin expressed his support to the abovementioned decision of Armenia and informed about the readiness of the Russian side to support the process.

Earlier Armenpress published the speech of the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan during the press conference on the results of the negotiations with the Russian President Vladimir Putin:

“Honorable Mister President, respectable representatives of media,

I want to begin with gratitude word directed to Mister Putin for just ended open negotiations, atmosphere of confidence and arrangements directed to further development of Armenian-Russian relations. As it was said inconstructive atmosphere together with Russian President we discussed the main issues of strategic partnership of our countries – in political, trade-economic, energy, humanitarian and other fields. Naturally we spoke about regional issues and settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. I confirmed once more Armenia’s readiness to settle the conflict exclusively peacefully on the base of principles of self-determination of people, retraining from threat or use of force, territorial integrity of states. I reconfirmed our readiness to continue looking for solutions for the crisis on the base of settlement principles and elements reflected in joint statements of Russian, American and French Presidents. One of main topics of our negotiations was the necessity of infrastructure reforms in Armenia, securing modernization and diversification of economy where Russia is represented with many enterprises. We discussed in details the prospective directions of our cooperation. We also discussed issues relating Eurasian integration and I confirmed Armenia’s wish to join Customs Union and be involved in the process of formation of Eurasian economic union. 20 years ago Armenia together with Russia and other CIS member states formed its military security system in format of Collective security treaty. During these decades the system approved its vitality and efficiency. Today our CSTO partners form new platform of economic cooperation. I have said many times that being in the same system of military security it is impossible to isolate yourself from corresponding geo-economic territory. This is a rational decision and it comes from interests of the Republic of Armenia. This decision is not refusal from dialogue with European organizations. During these years Armenia in support of its European partners held serious institutional reforms. Nowadays Armenia in this sense is much more efficient and competitive country as it was several years ago.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The results of our negotiations are reflected in our joint statements signed with Vladimir Putin several minutes ago. I am sure that realization of all arrangements will give new impetus to strategic allied partnership.

Mister President, I am grateful for warm reception and made arrangements”.