Armenia's Custom Union membership is quite doubtful. The latest statement of the Armenian president might pursue just political goals, says Rasul Zhumali, a Kazakh political scientist, total.kz reported. Zhumali thinks Armenia will face many challenges in implementing such plans.
Trade turnover of Kazakhstan and Armenia remains modest, though a Caucasian country would be interested in import of oil, gas and metals of Kazakhstan and Russia. However, export of raw materials is possible just hypothetically, the political scientist said.
"Armenia is in a certain economic semi-blockade. It has rather tense relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Apparently, Sargsyan would like to get out of that blockade. His statement bears little relation to economic and customs procedures. The country has no common borders with the other members of the Customs Union, which may impede the process. How will they be transporting goods via the territories of third countries? Implementation of that idea remains doubtful. Actually, Sargsyan wanted to favor Vladimir Putin, who tries to increase the number of the Union's member by means of carrot and stick," Zhumali says.
According to him, the power in Armenia belongs to the parliament rather than the president. Influence of public-sector organizations is growing in Armenia and they are opposing the decision to join the Customs Union.
"That country is now quite closely cooperating with the European Union. It is absolutely unclear how Armenia is going to sit on two chairs at once," Rasul Zhumali says.
On September 3 in Moscow, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan confirmed Armenia's intention to join the Customs Union and the process of the formation of the Eurasian Union. Vladimir Putin supported Sargsyan's decision and promised to contribute to Yerevan's accession to the Customs Union in every possible way.
The Customs Union has been created within the Eurasian economic space for trade and economic integration of Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia on the initiative of Russian President Vladimir Putin.