YEREVAN, March 13. /ARKA/. Hrant Bagratyan, former Armenian prime minister, who is now running for a seat in the National Assembly as number two in the Free Democrats party’s election list, is convinced that Armenia’s membership in the Eurasian Economic Union is not beneficial for the country and he thinks Armenia should quit the union.



Speaking Saturday at a discussion organized by Konrad Adenauer Foundation, he said 85% of the union’s GDP comes from Russia and this union is tailored for Russia’s interests.



“Our authorities should tell Russia that although Armenia is a small country, but it is necessary to respect our interests – otherwise, goodbye,” he said. “We thinks it is necessary to quit, When we quit we’ll remain in the free trade zone of the Commonwealth of Independent States.”



Bagratyan added that Armenia’s trade has shrunk 23% since it joined the Eurasian Economic Union, trade with third countries has reduced by 35% and losses has reached $800 million. In his words, Armenia’s trade turnover with the European Union has shrunk just as much.



He said that if in response to that Russia raise the price for the natural gas it exports to Armenia, the latter will be able to replace it with Iranian gas.



Bagratyan also said that the Russian gas is sold to consumers in Armenia at a price which is far higher that the border price ($150 per 1,000 cubic meters).



“I think the Russian gas price is $300 per 1,000 cubic meters… And if Iran sells us gas even at $200 this will be much better than so-called Russia gas for $140, which doesn’t exist,” he said. “If so, we’ll supply Iranian gas to final consumers at $220-230.”



Armenia’s foreign trade turnover totaled $5 075.3 million in 2016 showing a 7.4% year-on-year growth.

Its trade with CIS countries amounted to $1 543.7 million in 2016 (30.4% share and 11.6% year-on-year growth), where trade with Russia amounted to $1 366.9 million (15.1% growth).



Trade with the European Union amounted to about $1 218.7 million (24% share and 2.1% growth). -0---





11:13 13.03.2017