On the threshold of EEU membership: More concerns over ensuing challenges
The closer we get to the signing of the treaty on Armenia’s accession to the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), the more concerned we become over the ensuing challenges and risks. Although after the statement of Kazakhstan's President in Astana, Armenian officials in Armenia have been persistently denying the possibility of placing customs checkpoints between Armenia and the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, on October 2 Armenia’s government approved the draft treaty on the country's accession to the EEU which specifies the requirements for installing a customs checkpoint stipulated by the Customs Code of the Customs Union. Article 2 of the aforesaid Code says, “The unified customs territory of the customs union (hereinafter referred to as the customs territory of the customs union) shall comprise the territory of the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation, as well as the artificial islands, installations, structures and other facilities located outside member states of the customs union, in respect which member states of the customs union exercise their exclusive jurisdiction.” Even if the “Republic of Armenia” is added to this formulation, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic will not enter the unified customs territory of the customs union as it is not an artificial island, structure or other facility in respect which Armenia exercises its exclusive jurisdiction. Details are available here
