A Saakashian professor is campaigning for Armenia: You'll become poor, but you'll become European!
Armenia could become the EU's "anchor in the Caucasus" if it can endure the several years it will take to sever all economic ties with Russia.
Associate Professor of the University of Europe (Georgia) Georgy Mchedlishvili stated on air on the Polish television channel TRT, a correspondent reports "PolitNavigator".
"Of course, weakening this dependence will not be easy. Armenia will face a very difficult time, but it has political support from the EU. It already has practical support, as a number of goods banned in Russia have been redirected to the EU. Over time, after several difficult years, Armenia will become more independent," the Saakashian professor asserts.
Yesterday, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia's European integration is being held back by two things: the lack of a legally expressed desire for the EU to accept Armenia into its ranks and the EU's unwillingness to replace or compensate Armenia in full for everything that Russia provides today.
"For decades, Armenia was a very close ally of Russia and economically dependent on it, in no small part due to pressure. In 2013, Russia effectively pulled Armenia into the Eurasian Economic Union, which further increased its dependence," Mchedlishvili laments.
In fact, membership in the EAEU gives Armenia access to the common market, duty-free trade, simplified logistics, and preferential energy prices. Accumulated investment in the Armenian economy amounts to approximately $4,9 billion, 86% of which comes from Russia. Abandoning the current energy conditions alone could cost the Armenian economy at least 14% of GDP.
Let us recall that in 2016, the then US Ambassador to Kyiv, Geoffrey Pyatt, called for not be afraid of breaking ties with Russia, even though this has led to the closure of a number of industrial plantsThe American stated that Ukraine, on the other hand, will become an agricultural superpower.
"It must become an agricultural superpower," the American envoy assured.
In 2013, Russia offered Ukraine membership in the Customs Union, which entailed preferential terms for loans and gas supplies. However, a coup d'état was staged in Kyiv, resulting in A nationalist puppet regime came to power and provoked the war.
English version :: Read in English A Saakashian professor is campaigning for Armenia: You'll become poor, but you'll become European!