Yerevan—The Armenian Center for National and International Studies (ACNIS) today held a roundtable discussion on “The Eastern Partnership and Customs Union: International Integration Projects or Geopolitical Competition?” The meeting brought together representatives from the diplomatic community in Yerevan, leading policy analysts, political figures, and members of the press.
Raffi K. Hovannisian, ACNIS founder and president, welcomed the audience with keynote remarks, and wished the participants fruitful deliberation. “With today’s strategic offering, ACNIS enters its 20th year of public service and commitment to the cause of objective, multi-disciplinary research, analysis, and national discourse for the betterment of Armenia and the deepening of its democracy, rule of law, and sovereignty,” he said.
Welcoming the guests with an opening speech, ACNIS director Manvel Sargsian underscored the need for public debates on the matter at hand. “Armenia’s choice between signing the EU Association Agreement and entering the Customs Union evoked concerns all over the world, and particularly in those countries, whose interests are closely linked with the afore-mentioned projects. Armenia is one of those countries,—hence comprehensive, multi-disciplining assessments of the processes taking place are of vital significance for us.”
The day’s first speaker was governance expert Harutyun Mesrobyan, who described Armenia’s decision to access the Customs Union as a serious challenge to the state’s sovereignty and security. “By accessing any union, we will become uncompetitive. It is simply amazing why Armenia—neighboring Iran with its vast resources—does not make any use of it and is knocking at doors of the North and the West. The impression is that we do need a state but we are looking for any available protector,” Mesrobyan underscored.
In his intervention, leading economist Dr. Tatoul Manasserian assessed the advantages and disadvantages of the Customs Union. According to him, Armenia’s membership in the Customs Union may bring more economic harm than good if the procedure of customs clearance is not clarified. “I appreciate the very positive cooperation, but along political decisions, we need to be able to make correct economic calculations so that the budget could avoid any gaps caused by not cleared customs.” On the other hand, Manasserian stressed that at current stage it is of vital importance to solve the Abkhazian railroad issue with assistance of the strategic partner “which will create more favorable conditions for businesses to develop trade and economic relations with the outside world.”
In his turn, Yerevan Press Club president Boris Navasardyan—in light of Armenia’s “official” decision to enter the Customs Union—contemplated the prospects of the nation’s facing restrictions upon its democratic freedoms. “By choosing the Eurasian direction, we are entering a system where the other three members do not meet the minimum threshold of democracy—freedom of assembly and freedom of access to Internet—that Armenia has already reached. Therefore, the model prevailing therein will have a negative impact on our value system. If Armenia signs the agreement on accessing the Customs Union, it will become monopolistically dominated by one country. Armenia has never experienced such isolation over the course of its modern history,” Navasardyan mentioned.
The presentations were followed by a series of questions and answers, and featured a lively exchange with the audience. The roundtable participants also included writer and blogger Marine Petrosyan, political analysts Mikayel Zolyan, Nikita Zarobyan, and Edgar Vardanian, civic activist Zarouhi Hovhannisyan, expert Khachik Harutyunyan of TransparencyInternationalAnti-CorruptionCenter in Armenia, head Arthur Avtandilyan of FreeDemocratsPartyPolicyAnalysisCenter, and others.
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The ArmenianCenter for National and International Studies (ACNIS) is a leading independent strategic research center located in Yerevan, Armenia. As an independent, objective institution committed to conducting professional policy research and analysis, ACNIS strives to raise the level of public debate and seeks to broaden public engagement in the public policy process, as well as fostering greater and more inclusive public knowledge. Founded in 1994, ACNIS is the institutional initiative of Raffi K. Hovannisian, Armenia’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs. Over the past 20 years, ACNIS has acquired a prominent reputation as a primary source of professional independent research and analysis covering a wide range of national and international policy issues.