10:18 • 10.07.17
The Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, which Armenia intialed earlier this year to foster its cooperation with the EU, was apparently coordinated with Russia, according to a political analyst.
Speaking to Tert.am, Stepan Grigoryan, President of the Analytical Centre on Globalization and Regional Cooperation, said he believes that the Armenian authorities consducted political consultations with the country before negotiating the deal
"Russia is Armenia’s partner and strategic ally, so it is absolutely normal and acceptable to notify the country of its intention,” he said.
Grigoryan ruled out the possibility of a last moment decision to not to conclude the document (as was the case with the EU Association Agreement which Armenia didn't s sign after four years of negotiations following President Serzh Sargsyan's September 3, 2013 statement announcing the country's decision to join the common Eurasian integration area).
“I don’t think Armenia will back away from the initialed agreement. Logic prompts that we will sign the EU cooperation document this time,” he added.