Armenia to accomplish EEI affiliation process: Vyacheslav Kovalenko

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 23, ARMENPRESS: Former Ambassador of Russia to Armenia, Regional Program Directorof the Caspian Cooperation InstituteVyacheslav Kovalenko qualifies the moment when Armenia will join the Eurasian Economic Union(EEU) as historic. During the Yerevan-Moscow video bridge at “Novosti” press club Kovalenko said that Armenia should make a conscious choice, thanks to which the country will not lose for what it has struggled for many centuries. For a small state like Armenia, integration suggests development, Vyacheslav Kovalenko noted, Armenpress reports.

“Armenia has passed the large part of the path of affiliation to the Eurasian Economic Union, and I am sure that the process will be accomplished. Over 2 million Armenians live in Russia, there are about 800 thousand Armenian labor migrants. Hence, it is very important that the Armenians, who live in Russia, no matter permanently or temporarily, look in the same direction along with Russians and see a common perspective. It is a historical period now and Armenia should make a decision. This is also an important political and humanitarian period,” he stressed.

Eurasian Economic Union(EEU)is aneconomic unionwhich is planned to be established by a treaty signed on 29 May 2014 between the leaders ofBelarus,Kazakhstan, andRussia. The Union will officially go into effect on 1 January 2015, assuming the treaty is approved by the parliaments of the three countries. In 3 September 2013 President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan stated in Moscow that Armenia wants to affiliate with the Customs Union.