Armenian foreign ministry says alignment with EEU is of strategic importance for Armenia

“I think neither the European Union nor Russia needs its economic relations to be brokered,” Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian said in response to the question by Delo Daily, Slovenia, as to whether Armenia - a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) and a country that enjoys preferential tariff treatment with the EU - can mediate the economic relations of Russia and the EU.

“We are an EEU country and, simultaneously, we have good relations with the European Union countries. If there are any advantages, we will, sure, try to use them for the benefit of Armenia, and our Eurasian and European partners,” the minister said.

The minister believes that the accession to the Eurasian Economic Union is of strategic importance for Armenia.

“It will give us an opportunity to get an easier access to the protected goods markets and to the EEU united services market, to raise investments, create industrial and agricultural cooperatives, get a tax-free access to the resource base, and the transport corridors of the EEU, enjoy facilitated migration policy etc.  I am not an expert in the given field, not an economist, but the advantages are obvious,” the diplomat said.