Armenia’s membership in Eurasian Economic Union to strengthen its sovereignty and spur its economic development

YEREVAN, December 10. /ARKA/. Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union will strengthen its sovereignty and spur its economic development, Hayk Babukhanyan, an MP from the Republican Party of Armenia, told journalists on Wednesday. On December 4, the Armenian National Assembly ratified the agreement on Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union. It means Armenia, along with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan, becomes a full member of the union. The agreement takes force on January 1, 2015. «It is obvious that Armenia's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union is a landmark event and one of the most important events of the year in the country's foreign policy,» Babukhanyan said. In his opinion, Armenia's membership in the union gives the country additional opportunities for developing its economy and strengthening its sovereignty, and Armenia should manage to take advantage of them. Contrary to many people’s opinion, he said, Armenia's membership in the Eurasian Economic Union enhances its sovereignty by increasing its defense, including economic defense. Babukhanyan pointed out that unlike European Union member countries, new partners and associate members, all the members of the Eurasian Economic Union will enjoy equal rights. Besides, the Eurasian Economic Union member countries are closer to Armenia in terms of mentality and values, including Christian values. As for some discord among the union countries, Babukhanyan said this is natural in unions of various countries. «Such problems are absolutely natural and I think they are temporary and will be settled soon,» he said. ----0---