"I strongly agree with the statement by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazabayev saying that Armenia must join the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) within the borders it joined WTO," Spokesperson of NKR Foreign Ministry David Babayan told ArmInfo. According to Babayan, Armenia is a sovereign state participating in political and economic projects and it must integrate into projects within its borders. He does not understand why should Nazarbayev's statement arouse such hot debates in the Armenian public.
"The Nagorno Karabakg Republic and the Republic of Armenia are two independent and sovereign states, why should Armenia integrate into any structure together with NKR? In his speech Nazarbayev said that Armenia must join the EAU within the same borders it joined WTO. Nothing threatened NKR when Armenia accessed WTO. I think, nothing will threaten NKR also when Armenia accesses EAU," Babayan said.
As for possible opening of border crossings between Armenia and NKR, Babayan thinks it unlikely.
To recall, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan said on the heels of a Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan, Thursday, that Armenia is ready to sign the Treaty on Eurasian Economic Union before June 15. President of Russia Vladimir Putin said that the document can be signed no sooner than on 1 July, as Armenia is yet to fulfill some commitments. President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, in turn, said Azerbaijan claims that Armenia can join the Eurasian Economic Union (EAU) within the same borders it joined the World Trade Organization (WTO). We have received the Azerbaijani president's letter saying that Armenia joined WTO with a reservation that the provisions must apply to the territory of Armenia within its international borders recognized by the UN. It is an issue for discussion," the Kazakh president said. President of Armenia made no statement in response.