During yesterday’s parliamentary session deputies were trying to understand how it could happen that Armenia was in negotiation with Europe during four years for the purpose of signing association agreement, and just two months before that drastically made a political decision to join Customs Union proposed by Russia and other post-Soviet states.

In a session following parliamentary sitting yesterday Alexander Arzumanyan, former foreign minister, said that the society has not been able to get along with the news concerning joining Customs Union, we see some new integration.

Ever since Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi was removed from office, Turkey’s Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been harshly critical of the new government, strongly advocating his fellow Islamist Morsi’s return to power. Given Erdogan’s unwelcome meddling in Egypt’s internal affairs, millions of Egyptians have expressed anger and resentment against Turkey and its prime minister. […]

After Armenia’s decision on membership to the Customs Union it is important to understand the economic privileges and flaws. The Customs Union implies free trade circulation among the member states. At first sight, this seems like an ideal opportunity for us because our economic and trade relations with the main economic partner Russia will even more accelerate.

The most discussed political topic in Armenia now is the issue of Armenia joining a proposed Customs Union made of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan. Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan has come up with announcement saying that Armenia is committed to joining the Union. Most people who oppose to or are for joining the Union do not really know what it is.

European integration was one of the priorities of our foreign policy. The government stated that it would sign the EU association pact. This event was held in parallel with the statement of the Republican faction chair Galust Sahakyan’s statement.

The official webpage of Carnegie Endowment for International peace published the article of a senior associate of the Endowment, Thomas de Waal, author of the authoritative book on the Karabakh conflict, Black Garden and many other articles. The last article was titled, “An offer Serzh Sargsyan couldn’t refuse.” It reads, “The announcement came quite suddenly. Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan was going on a brief visit to Moscow.

Seven years ago the government of Armenia announced a project for developing cattle breeding in 2007-2015. The government decided to import different types of cattle from Europe and give to farmers and villagers on credit (for 4 years – 10% interest rate applicable the first year, 20% – second, 30% -third, and 40% for the fourth year).

In the classic Diaspora, the community is closed connected and united with the church. The other structure is the ARF, which is not preferable in this case. Here the challenge is how to modernize the church and make it more participatory. Armenia has over 900 communities, out of which 400-500 are major ones. In western states we have about the same number of churches.

Our fatherland is not well known in the world. In terms of investments, however, the most attractive sectors are agriculture, mines and energy. But for that we need new capitals and newer technologies. And in our opinion it is just starting to develop in Armenia.