Armenia’s Membership to EEU was Positive: Vache Gabrielyan
Vache Gabrielyan, RA Vice Prime Minister, Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms, gives positive assessment to Armenia’s engagement with Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). “We have analyzed economic indicators for the first six months of Armenia’s membership to EEU, which is available at the Ministry’s website. Report for the whole year is available there as well. In that analysis Russia’s economic developments due to possibilities provided by EEU are singled out, as, in any case, as a member country or not, impact of Russia’s economic condition is noticeable on all the countries of the region, including Georgia, Moldova, the Ukraine and etc. From this perspective, our analysis shows that Armenia’s membership to EEU was positive,” he said.
Moreover, in Vache Gabrielyan’s assessment, the situation might have been worse, if Armenia refused to engage with EEU.
In his words, after membership to EEU entrance of businessmen and Armenian products to Russia, as well as to the Eurasian market, has been facilitated.
He mentioned that transfer of goods has been facilitated as well, as new customs clearance terms have been established.
“Secondly, we may stress export, on the whole, in the context of diversification of goods, we recorded progress. Besides, inflow and outflow of workforce has essentially been regulated, which also provided the opportunity to essentially soothe social implications which, conditioned by Russia’s economic condition—reduction of transfers, were available in Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and other places,” Vache Gabrielyan added.
Regarding development of a single currency, he stated that no process is being implemented in this direction. “Presently, no steps are taken on development of a single currency, only there are coordinating discussions. The issue of establishment of common bank regulator isn’t discussed, only regarding coordination of policies,” he said.
As for unification of approaches of member countries in integration process, Vache Gabrielyan stated that regular works are being implemented, which is typical for all the unions. According to him, they presuppose years of work. “Unification of approaches of any international union, let it be Eurasian Economic Union or the European Union, lasts years, decades. Currently Armenia is negotiating with EEU member countries, as a result of which we little by little, it paves a way for more integration,” he stressed.
He noted that clarifications of technical regulations presuppose longer work.
