Azerbaijan, Baku, Sept. 5 / Trend E. Tariverdiyeva /
An association agreement and one on a deep and comprehensive free trade zone with the EU can be compatible with economic cooperation with the CIS countries, the European Commission's statement concerning Armenia's accession to the Customs Union posted on the EU official website said today.
"We take note of Armenia's apparent wish to join the Customs Union," the statement said. "We look forward to understanding better from Armenia what their intentions are and how they wish to ensure compatibility between these and the commitments undertaken through the Association Agreement and DCFTA. Once this consultation has been completed, we will draw our conclusions on the way forward. We want to underline once again that AA/DCFTA is a
blueprint for reforms beneficial for all and not a zero-sum game and could be compatible with economic cooperation with the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States."
In July this year, after three and a half years, we finalised the negotiations of the Association Agreement (including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area) with Armenia, the statement said.
This agreement would allow Armenia with the EU´s support, to drive forward a programme of comprehensive modernisation and reform based upon shared values, political association and economic integration, the European Commission said.
Following talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan voiced the decision of the republic to join the Customs Union and take the necessary practical action and participate in the formation of the Eurasian Economic Union.
A summit of the EU leadership and leaders of the EU Eastern Partnership programme member countries will be held in Vilnius in November 2013. The agreements on the association and on a deep and comprehensive free trade zone are expected to be initialled with several countries.