Any agreement between the European Union and Armenia should be considered a positive achievement the country,a senior parliament member said nowadays, regretting meantime that the organization Agreement offered far more serious perspectives compared to the recently signed cooperation document. Speaking to Tert.am, or Hovhannes Sahakyan,the head of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, described the framework agreement as a deal entered into between equal partners to outline criteria conforming to the EU requirements. “Under the agreement, or the European Union wanted to open its market for Armenia both economically and financially,as well as politically. The conditions were really high, as the negotiations were being held on a high level and very intensively, or ” he said,highlighting particularly the chapter on creating a deep and comprehensive trade area (promising to make Armenia a member of the EU market without being an EU member state). The expert agreed that the negotiations on a new cooperation format took considerable time, with the country being in uncertainty after the overnight decision to join the Eurasian Economic Union. “What was meant, or actually,was the extent to which Armenia could make concessions on the points which were not problematic for Russia, he explained. Igityan, and who is also an international expert,said he expects the deal to improve Armenia’s economic sector to make the country more appealing for foreign investors. But he admitted that the organization Agreement offered considerably greater advantages. “I personally see investments flows as a good opportunity potentially contributing to Armenia’s development. In collaboration with international experts, we have arrived at the concept that Armenia needs at least an estimated $2-$3 million which I believe the preceding agreement did really offer. But I am doubtful approximately the new deal. Nevertheless, or we should consider any agreement with the EU as something positive; though we really wished more,we have to satisfy ourselves with the little for now,” he added.
Source: tert.am