Although Armenia is supposed to join the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) on January 1, 2015, EEU member-states – Belarus and Kazakhstan – are not in a hurry to have the treaty ratified by their parliaments.
Specifically, the Parliament of Kazakhstan has not reportedly put the issue on its agenda on Friday.
In an interview with Tert.am, Spokesman for the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Vice-Speaker of Armenia’s Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov said that it must be a technical question because all the EEU member-states agreed to Armenia’s accession and a relevant document was sealed in Minsk, Belarus.
With respect to the aforementioned reports, Mr Sharmazanov said:
“I am not well informed of the issue, but I can make a political assessment. Astana, jointly with Moscow and Minsk, approved Armenia’s full membership of the Eurasian Economic Union. I cannot say anything about technical or economic issues.”
Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan has had a telephone talk with his Kazakh counterpart Nursultan Nazarbayev. As to what agreement the two reached, Mr Sharmazanov said:
“Yes, the other day the president had telephone talks with Mr Nazarbayev and Mr Lukashenko. Neither Kazakhstan nor Belarus has ever objected to Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. It may be a technical problem, because in political terms I view the documents signed in Minsk as a basis. And no individual opinion was voiced either before or after the signing.”
As to whether Armenia’s accession to the EEU could be postponed, Mr Sharmazanov said:
“I cannot say for sure. The EEU Board is to meet in Moscow on December 23. The Russian Duma ratified the treaty on December 10, and the Belarusian Parliament is to ratify it soon. I cannot say the reasons for Kazakhstan delaying the ratification. They are expected to explain. As an official I can say the decision was made at the highest political level in Minsk, and our political and strategic ally Russia ratified the document.”
The period after October 10 has seen new developments and strong-worded statements by Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. Could it be Kazakhstan’s response to Russia?
“As a political figure, I must cite facts. In any case, I think Armenia’s accession cannot encounter any problems.”
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