Economist: Eurasian Economic Union is not developing as a unit (video)
What benefits and losses has Armenia had after joining the Eurasian Economic Union? Three years ago, Serzh Sargsyan announced that Armenia is changing its political vector from Europe to Eurasia. “The Eurasian Economic Union is not developing as a unit. Among its member states only Armenia registered economic growth in the first quarter of 2016. All other countries had declines,” says economist Bagrat Asatryan. The Union of Informed Citizens NGO has tried to present the situation in figures. “In 2014, Armenia’s GDP totaled $ 11.6 billion. After the country joined the EEU, it began to fall and is expected to reach $ 10.7 billion in 2016,” the Union said. Republican lawmaker Artak Davtyan says Armenia would have greater losses, if we did not join the EEU. “Despite all difficulties, we have been able to ensure economic growth. Export volumes were unprecedented in the first months of 2016,” he said. Bagrat Asatryan says as an economic unit, the Eurasian Economic Union has not offered a new solution to Armenia. “We have the same problems that existed three years ago. This, first of all concerns, the problem of roads. Everyone who imports and exports goods should be called heroes, because they have to overcome many obstacles.” The Union of Informed Citizens NGO also tried to find out what the EEU has given to Armenia in the past three years in terms of safety. “In the past three years, Russia has sold Azerbaijan hundreds of tanks, tanks and armored vehicles, military helicopters, artillery systems, anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles,” the NGO says. Artak Davtyan says Russia would sell the weapons to Azerbaijan despite Armenia’s membership to the EEU. Bagrat Asatryan says the structure does not have political, economic or social bases and once Putin leave politics, the structure will stop its existence.
