The Russian side never told us that we should not sign such an agreement: Serzh Sargsyan
During the working visit to Belgium President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan gave an interview for Euronews. Full interview is introduced below.
Mr. President, thank you for meeting with Euronews in Brussels after the talks with the EU on the framework agreement. Can it be said to be a step back or forward from the Association Agreement that Armenia called off in 2013?
As for the economic part, well, we had to make sure that there’s no contradiction in this document with our other commitments.
But Russia objected the Association Agreement with Armenia, with Ukraine. Did you have to water down the agreement to be acceptable for Russia?
From the very beginning of the negotiations, our standing was that we can have both: the Association Agreement with the EU, and membership with the Eurasian Economic Union. The Russian side never told us that we should not sign such an agreement. They told us that if we sign, if we do not become a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, we will have, for example, buy energy at international prices.
Do you see a future of the Eurasian Economic Union as a match to the European Union, considering the troubles Russia faces?
I think it’s too early to talk about achieving equivalence; it would be better to talk about cooperation between the two blocs, and we show by our example that the cooperation is possible.
What can you offer to European Union? Of course, football players, such as Mkhitaryan and other experts? But what else?
We have many famous people like Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Levon Aronian. We have Olympic champions. But we can also be useful for the EU by exporting our products and not only. IT is also developing very fast in Armenia, and above all, we can be a friendly neighbor for the Europeans, a predictable neighbor at that.
Armenia also relies on Russia for security. Are you looking for alternatives, for instance NATO?
I have just met with the NATO secretary general. I invited him to Armenia to celebrate our cooperation over the past 25 years. We don’t see any contradiction between this partnership and our alliance with Russia in the sidelines of the CSTO.
There is no name Serzh Sargsyan on the list of the ruling Republican Party for the April parliamentary election. Does it mean you are quitting politics?
That means we take into account the concerns voiced by our opposition that administrative resources can be used throughout the electoral process. And that also means we are creating opportunities for young people to express themselves in politics.
Where are you taking the current presidential Republic of Armenia into what? What will it become?
It’s going to be a very desirable country for every single Armenian. I strongly believe that the parliamentary system provides better opportunities for good governance; it provides better opportunities for citizens and representatives of the civil society in general to participate in the solution of problems facing our country. We wish our citizens to have fewer complaints than others.
