Former Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia V.Shirhanyan: Joining the Eurasian Union is more profitable than integration with Europe

Board member of the Social-Democratic Party "Hnchakyan", the former Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Vahan Shirkhanyan in the interview to the "Bulletin of the Caucasus" talks about the prospects of Armenian foreign policy.

Board member of the Social-Democratic Party "Hnchakyan", the former Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Vahan Shirkhanyan in the interview to the "Bulletin of the Caucasus" talks about the prospects of Armenian foreign policy.

- And what, according to your opinion, is the foreign priorities?

- The establishment of the Customs Union and the prospects for the Eurasian Union creation, of course, have opened up new possibilities for Armenia in foreign policy. Everything is simple. Armenia's interests can be most clearly reflected in these two structures. Mainly the membership in the Customs Union promises to our republic the possibility to address specific economic challenges, while preparing to the consolidation with Europe and indeed with the EU as a whole are still very distant future. The membership in the Customs Union will give us the access to a boundless market, where Armenian brands will feel a lot more comfortable than at the European market. Above all, membership of Armenia in the Customs Union will open up new possibilities for integration, including the integration with neighboring countries, especially with Iran. Joining the Customs and later the Eurasian Union is more profitable European integration, because the benefits of the first two projects are real and achievable.

In this case, the military, political and strategic relations with Russia have no alternatives. Since 1990, history has repeatedly shown it. Alliance with Russia is the only guarantee of security for Armenia, and this relationship will develop during at least the next several decades. We give such guarantees to no other structure, primarily NATO, even if Armenia will become a member of this organization.

The absence of a common border with the countries of the Eurasian Union is estimated to be an obstacle on the way of Armenia's integration with the Customs Union. But there are no boundaries and with European countries either.