CIS free trade agreements not at odds with Armenia’s WTO and EU commitments

YEREVAN, October 26. / ARKA /. The Free CIS Trade Agreement signed October 18 by several member countries is not at odds with Armenia’s other international commitments, including its WTO and EU commitments, Zohrab Mnatsakanian, a deputy foreign minister and chief Armenian negotiator in Armenia-EU association talks said today.

The free trade agreement was signed by Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and Tajikistan. Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan refused to sign it, but can do so until the end of this year. The agreement facilitates trade and other economic ties between member countries and stipulates the signing of a whole number of new multilateral agreements.

"Armenia has been trading freely with Russia and the CIS for many years. This does not run counter to any of its obligations to WTO and its cooperation with the European Union," said Mnatsakanian Wednesday at a joint press conference with Gunnar Wiegand, EU's top diplomat for Russia and Central Asia and the chief EU negotiator in EU-Armenia association talks.

Wigand, in turn, said the EU-Armenia Association Agreement and the creation of a free and comprehensive trade zone as part of it does not contradict Armenia’s other trade agreements.

"The free and comprehensive trade agreement will be drafted based on the principles of respect for other international agreements", he said.
Wiegand said the Armenian government is firm to make its customs regulations comply with European standards.

On October 26 Armenia hosted the seventh round of negotiations on EU-Armenia Association Agreement.

Negotiations on this paper started June 19, 2010 in Yerevan. The agreement will replace the current agreement on partnership and cooperation and aims to strengthen relations between Armenia and European Union in various fields, particularly in the area of foreign policy, democracy, economic integration, the movement of people and energy. -0-