New Armenia-EU agreement poses no risks for Russia: opposition MP

PanARMENIAN.Net - The new agreement that will soon be signed between Armenia and the European Union poses no risks for Russia, lawmaker from Yelk bloc Edmon Marukyan has said, according to RFE/RL Armenian Service.

"I am confident that Russia is aware of the contents of the document and sees no problems, and that's why negotiations were continued," Marukyan said.

"The previous (agreement), I believe, posed no risks either, but it had to be presented as beneficial to both Armenia and, in the event of Armenia's development, Russia. But this did not happen, and Russia considered the deal a threat to its national interests."

Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan expressed confidence earlier this week that the agreement will be signed very soon. According to him, the country was negotiating with both the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union back in 2013. "But what could we do when the EU said the deal with the EEU will hamper the one with Europe?" Sargsyan added.

Meanwhile, Marukyan said he has never been aware that Armenia was negotiating cooperation with the EEU in 2013, reminding of then prime minister Tigran Sargsyan's claims that Armenia shares no border with the Russia-led bloc, and that "there's nothing to discuss here."

After negotiating the Association Agreement with the EU for more than three years, Armenia ultimately chose to join the Eurasian Economic Union.