Proposal to put secession from Eurasian Economic Union on Armenian National Assembly floor voted down

YEREVAN, December 5. /ARKA/. The Armenian National Assembly rejected today a proposal to open debates on the bill implying secession of Armenia from the Eurasian Economic Union. 

The proposal of YELQ (Way Out) opposition faction was voted down by 76 MPs.  

The opposition lawmakers say that membership in the Eurasian Economic Union curbs Armenia’s development deterring the country from establishing trade ties with other countries. 

They also point out that after joining the Eurasian Economic Union Armenia faced significant regress in a number of social and economic areas and didn’t strengthen its security. 

“Armenia’s GDP dropped 8 percent in dollar calculation, employment rate sank 13% and international reserves shrank by 40% while public debt grew 10% over three years of the country’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union,” YELQ says. “Along with that, net investment inflow dwindled to AMD 81 billion ($167.3 million) in 2016 from AMD 167.4 billion ($354.8 million) in 2014.”

The opposition faction expressed concern over the obstacles the union creates in Armenia’s relations with third countries, including neighboring Georgia and Iran. 

Besides, the union doesn’t ensure free movement of human resources, goods, money and services in a clear breach of its own rules. 

In addition, the Eurasian Economic Union pursues a policy not favorable for Karabakh conflict settlement. 

Taking into account the fact of the consistent import of the authoritarian traditions existing in the Eurasian Economic Union member courtiers into Armenia’s political system, the growing restrictions of political and civil liberties as well as violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms resulted from Armenia’s membership in the union and finding continuation of this process very dangerous, the opposition-minded members of Armenian parliament are convinced that Armenia should quit the union. 

The ruling Republican Party of Armenia called these arguments unconvincing. They said every union needs institutional establishment and even the European Union is constantly correcting its structure, which has not accomplished for 60 years. --0---