Membership to EEU was the Only Step Militarily and Politically, There was No other Way out: Vahagn Khachatryan
It was stated on Armenia’s membership to the Customs Union after the meeting of RA and RF presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin 3 September 2013 in Moscow. In April 2014 the National Assembly passed a voting on joining the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Only 7 MPs voted against: 4 members of “Heritage” faction, Nikol Pashinyan from ANC, independent MPs Edmon Marukyan and Khachatur Kokobelyan, and Aghvan Vardanyan abstained from the vote. ANC faction MP Hrant Bagratyan didn’t participate in the voting. As a result, Armenia became a EEU member country from January 2015. We asked Vahagn Khachatryan, ANC faction member, how justified was Armenia’s choice.
-The most important is that 3 years ago, I and my associates have spoken, and our position was the following: it was the only step regarding military-political perspective, there was no other way out, i.e. Armenia couldn’t be in one system in military and political alliances, and economically – in others.Maybe prior to that all other talks on Armenia’s integration in the EU within Eastern Partnership were great adventure, as in fact, it couldn’t have been realizable.
The second issue is existent as well, and we have touched upon it and I still insist that Armenia’s full membership to the Customs Union was economically impossible, and life has showed: that circumstance makes Armenia face certain difficulties, as economic customs unions are existent among the countries with common borders. We had border with none of the member countries. And when we brought this as an argument, former Parliament members and its head were attempting to speak the opposite, however, when the decision was made to enter the Customs Union, the opposite grounding was brought.
At first, they said that having no border prevents us from involving in the Customs Union, however, when they made a decision on September 3, they said nothing obstacles to it.
And finally, thirdly, everyone was interested whether there was any calculation by Armenia’s authorities to ground our membership to the Customs Union, then to EEU. At that time I knew that it’s so, and now I believe there was no any calculation. Later on a few likewise analytical materials appeared, which were mainly suppositions, “If North-South road is constructed…,” “If APP is built…,” “If…” in that case Armenia will record about 3% GDP growth. However, they weren’t real calculations, they were suppositions, and when a country is going to join any union, first and foremost, those calculations should be brought and taken as a ground.
-On account of the April war do you consider now that membership was justified regarding military-political appropriateness?
-Definitely, there hasn’t been no any change since. In fact, we can use our advantages, and in that case, I think you wouldn’t pose those questions to me. We simply don’t use those advantages, moreover, we succeeded to consume it over the years and record failures as well.
However, I hope, at least the April developments will be a lesson, and we’ll be able to use the possibility provided to us. I repeat, one can’t be in one union or group militarily and politically, and attempt to be engaged with another group economically. Moreover, it should be also stated that there was a threatening element in relations with EaP, that they were speaking of “either-or,” and that “and-and” won’t work, i.e. either Armenia should be a EU member within EaP, or it can’t and the Customs Union prevents it.
However, it turned out later that although it wasn’t finally formulated that there are certain frameworks of cooperation with the EU, which wouldn’t prevent Armenia of becoming a EEU member in any way. During the meetings on highest level it was told to the EU officials: don’t lead Armenia to face the trial and “either-or” choice. Politically the choice of “either-or” is the most dangerous. It should always be attempted to find cooperation edges. I wouldn’t like to bring that example, but look what happened in Ukraine. It’s rather visible and dangerous, however, I don’t want, that we, as a state, faced such fatal situations, as it has rather hazardous implications.
By Gayane Khachatryan
