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Armenia needs referendum on EEU membership, expert says

01 October 2014 [10:44] - TODAY.AZ
By Mushvig Mehdiyev


Armenian authorities still remain in a hot seat due to soon to be approved membership at the Eurasian Economic Union.
Negative and positive approaches towards the union have prevented the society to reach a consensus on the issue.


"Armenia needs an immediate referendum regarding the Eurasian Economic Union membership," a member of the European Choice initiative group, Vahram Martirosyan, said in a press-conference on September 29.



Martirosyan noted that Armenians have the right to define their own destiny and holding a referendum is a mechanism enabling people to express their will.
Armenian authorities' unexpected U-turn towards the European integration surprised its European partners. The government failed to get closer with Europe after three years of active work to prepare the association agreement between Armenia and the EU. Thus, the Armenian government announced in September, 2013 that it prefers the Customs Union - embryo of the Eurasian Economic Union - over the European Union.


Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan formally established the EEU in May 2014. Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are expected to join the alliance by the end of 2014.
Martirosyan believes that Armenian authorities were forced to change their foreign policy and follow the EEU. "Official Yerevan was treated as a doormat, as the president proves that the country is a puppet in the hands of Russia. Otherwise, three years of work for European integration would not be dropped," he added.


Martirosyan sees the referendum as the best option to make final decision on EEU membership. He called the opposition parties to join the European Choice's initiative and organize a referendum on this issue. "We can jointly organize a referendum, which will define the people's real choice."


Martirosyan cited joining the EEU as a real threat against the background of economic sanctions imposed on Russia. "Decreasing rate of the ruble and growing anti-Russian mood can be disastrous for Armenia. Recent events will soon lead to the collapse of Russia's economy and we will find ourselves in a hopeless situation with our hands and legs tied to the Kremlin," he noted.
Armenian economy strongly depends on the economy of its neighbor and ally Russia. Russia was the largest foreign investor in Armenia before Argentina topped the northern giant in investments in the South Caucasus country. The world's largest country is the main destination of the people massively leaving Armenia. Migrant remittances from Russia act as one of the key factors setting the country's state budget.


"Many of the local people do not have a clear imagination about the results of joining the Eurasian Economic Union. Authorities do not present any argument proving that the current decision on EEU comes from the national interests," head of Yerevan press-club, Boris Navasardyan said in the press-conference. He added that Armenia's EEU membership will be just symbolic, as the Kremlin needs it for only satisfying its ambitions.


Final signatures to Armenia's long-awaited membership at the Eurasian Union are expected to be put in the union's Minsk Summit on October 10.

/AzerNews/
URL: http://www.today.az/news/regions/136772.html

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