Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 25 October (BelTA) – Armenia is ready to assume the obligations necessary to join the Customs Union, First Vice Premier of Russia Igor Shuvalov told reporters following the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk, BelTA has learnt.

According to Igor Shuvalov, the working group that was set up to handle the matter will present a roadmap on Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union at the next meeting of the presidents within the framework of the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Moscow in December.

The First Vice Premier of Russia said that during the summit the Armenian President asked the presidents of the Customs Union member states to give Armenia an opportunity to ratify all the necessary documents as soon as possible.

Igor Shuvalov noted that the talks with Armenia on the Customs Union accession greatly differ from the talks with Kyrgyzstan on the same matter. “Armenia says: we are ready to ratify almost fully all the agreements that we analyzed. We have been working on it since the very first day the Customs Union passed these agreements. We need just a couple of months and we are ready to join the entire legal framework and fulfill all the obligations,” the First Vice Premier of Russia said.

In his words, Armenia expressed readiness to harmonize its legislation with that of the Customs Union. Igor Shuvalov noted: “As soon as Armenia adopts all the necessary documents, it will become member of the Customs Union”.