OREANDA-NEWS. President Serzh Sargsyan took part in the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in the capital of the Republic of Belarus Minsk where he made a statement.

Statement by President Serzh Sargsyan at the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council

Dear colleagues, 
Throughout the last decade it has already become a good tradition to make decisions important for our countries in Belarus. The present summit in Minsk, the session of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, is not an exception. I would like to thank President Lukashenko once again for organizing the works of today’s summit perfectly and the hospitality extended to us.

Some time ago, we announced the end of the ratification procedure for the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union. I congratulate the states who have formed the Eurasian Union on the occasion of crossing that threshold.

I hope that this day will be also marked by the end of our joint efforts aimed at Armenia’s accession to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union. I am sure that the signing of that historic document will launch a new phase of integration in the Eurasian region.

We are fully aware of our special responsibility of being the first to join the treaty. I am sure that we will make joint efforts to make the most of Armenia’s integration minimizing the risks of our country and maximizing our common benefits.

We had difficulties in the negotiation phase but owing to our political will, professional approach and the readiness to look for the best decisions, we were able to cut it short and consider the interests of all the parties engaged. I am grateful to all the participants of that process, first of all the heads of states, the Council of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the collegium of the commission, all the officials and experts for carrying out a huge amount of work in such a short period. 

Our decision on Armenia’s full-fledged involvement in the Eurasian integration processes is derived from the fact that we consider the Eurasian Economic Union as a main format to develop predictable and maximally beneficial relations based on free movement of goods, services, capital and labor.

Of course, Armenia’s membership has its peculiarity which is the absence of common borders with other members of the Eurasian Economic Union. However, we are sure that it will not hinder Armenia’s integration into the joint regulatory systems to be set up in our common economic area, including the spheres of transport, energy, telecommunications and finance.

It is obvious to us that together we are economically stronger and it is easy for us to respond to global challenges. In terms of its geography, the Eurasian Union is the largest economic union. We are sure that the union has a huge amount of unrealized potential to strengthen its positions on the global economic map.

Furthermore, rooted in universal and widely understandable principles, including the norms of the World Trade Organization, the Eurasian Economic Union is transparent and supposes full-fledged and equal cooperation with other integration associations and third countries.

International experience shows that by joining economic integration processes, developing countries can ensure higher growth rates and competitiveness if only they manage to make the most of all their potential and advantages. We will do our best so that resting upon on its own experience and competitiveness, as well as continuing institutional and structural reforms, Armenia makes its own contribution to strengthening the Eurasian territory. 

We are sincerely interested in that and are ready to promote close cooperation aimed at fulfilling the goals stipulated in the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union.

Thank you for your attention.