Azerbaijan has no chances to join EEU any time soon- analyst says
18.10.2016,
17:06
Azerbaijan is unlikely to join the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) any time soon, according to an Armenian political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan.
YEREVAN, October 18. /ARKA/. Azerbaijan is unlikely to join the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) any time soon, according to an Armenian political analyst Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan.
In an interview with Russian RIA Novosti news agency Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev said that one can not exclude the possibility of Azerbaijan's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union in the future, adding, however, that his country feels confident in its current status.
"Azerbaijan is making quite clear signals that it is ready to join the EEU, but in return to political and economic benefits. In the first place, political benefits, since its leadership has repeatedly stated that they can cooperate with those structures that can provide the return of Karabakh under Azerbaijan’s jurisdiction ", Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
"If the cost of Azerbaijan’s accession to EEU is the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, then it should be viewed in Armenia as an external threat. On the other hand, it is obvious that with an unresolved conflict the EEU will not be able to function fully, if Armenia and Azerbaijan are its members," - Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
According to him, Armenia should oppose Azerbaijan's accession to the EEU, as was the case with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
"I think that in the short term, Azerbaijan does not have a chance to be in the EEU," - Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
EEU is an international economic alliance, functioning since January 1, 2015. Its current members are former Soviet republics of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. -0-
In an interview with Russian RIA Novosti news agency Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyev said that one can not exclude the possibility of Azerbaijan's accession to the Eurasian Economic Union in the future, adding, however, that his country feels confident in its current status.
"Azerbaijan is making quite clear signals that it is ready to join the EEU, but in return to political and economic benefits. In the first place, political benefits, since its leadership has repeatedly stated that they can cooperate with those structures that can provide the return of Karabakh under Azerbaijan’s jurisdiction ", Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
"If the cost of Azerbaijan’s accession to EEU is the independence of Nagorno-Karabakh, then it should be viewed in Armenia as an external threat. On the other hand, it is obvious that with an unresolved conflict the EEU will not be able to function fully, if Armenia and Azerbaijan are its members," - Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
According to him, Armenia should oppose Azerbaijan's accession to the EEU, as was the case with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
"I think that in the short term, Azerbaijan does not have a chance to be in the EEU," - Melik-Shahnazaryan said.
EEU is an international economic alliance, functioning since January 1, 2015. Its current members are former Soviet republics of Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. -0-
