"Today, our statistics show that if last year our bilateral trade with Armenia amounted to $ 12.4 billion, this year we will probably exceed 6 billion," Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk said in an interview with TASS.
He reminded that he spoke about this in September last year, when discussions about rapprochement with the European Union were intensified in Armenia. "I told my colleagues that our business is already starting to be quite careful to build trade relations with Armenia, and how it can affect our bilateral trade."
"If this continues, we will have to make a decision to re-evaluate our economic policy towards this country. Armenia's right to decide where it should be. But they also understand that in that case the customs regime will be different, in which case we will not have a free movement of goods between our countries and will not be a duty-free trade.
This can hit the manufacturers of Armenian goods, in particular, to the manufacturers of the agricultural sector, as the market features are such that their products are in demand in Russia.
I don't even mention the fact that the Armenian market will be on sale with goods imported from the EU, which will leave few opportunities for the development of Armenian business. Apparently, they also need to evaluate these factors, and they will appreciate them. If Armenia will ever join the EU, and we have the same relations with the EU, then there will be any questions about the introduction of air transport. As you know, the EU's sky is closed to Russian planes, which means that Armenia's sky will also be closed to Russian planes, and Russia's heaven is also closed to the Armenian.
There will be different prices for energy and food, which today Armenia, as our ally, receives Russia. The country will also lose the benefits of its closest neighbor Iran. There may be many consequences, they need to understand and appreciate. This is a very bad scenario, first of all, for ordinary people, we don't want that, so we are talking openly about it.
Of course, Armenia will get something from the EU. Some new markets will be opened for him, some new routes will appear. They must consider all this, look at the balance. After all, the people of Armenia will decide. It is their choice, "he said.
