Armenian's restricted exports to Russia no more than 3% of GDP - minister
YEREVAN. Aug 31 (Interfax) - Armenia's exports to Russia that are subject to restrictions do not amount to more than 3% of GDP, Armenian Finance Minister Vahe Hovhannisyan said.
"The restrictions on exports to Russia do not exceed 3% of GDP. Of course, there'll be problems that we'll be addressing over the next five years," he said in an interview with Armenia's Shant TV.
Armenia is taking steps to ensure that its companies that are facing problems due to export restrictions can resolve these issues.
"I can say that these problems have been largely resolved. Diversification goals are being addressed today. Our goods, including agricultural produce, are being exported to many different countries," Hovhannisyan said.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed economic relations in a July 27 phone call. The Armenian government's press service reported that Pashinyan said Russia's "restrictions on imports of goods from Armenia were at variance with the Armenian-Russian international treaty framework and the provisions of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and asked for measures to be taken to resolve the issues."
Pashinyan said on August 13, after a telephone conversation with the Russian president and his participation in a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Commission, that he did not see any changes in Armenian exports to Russia.
Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) banned flower shipments from Armenia on May 22. Rosselkhoznadzor also imposed temporary restrictions on fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, green vegetables and strawberries from the country on May 30, on cherries, sweet cherries, apricots, plums, peaches and nectarines, as well as fresh grapes on June 2 and on pome fruit, eggplants, potatoes and dried fruit on June 3. It said on June 2 that Armenia must suspend certification of live fish and fish products for export to Russia. Rosselkhoznadzor has restricted imports of dairy products from Armenia since July 27.
Yerevan's push for closer ties with the European Union and discussions about Armenia's possible future accession have provoked a negative reaction from Moscow. "No one is pushing Armenia out of the EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union], they just said they wanted to join the EU. They simply need to make a decision, and the sooner they do so and the sooner there's some certainty, the better for everyone," Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) council head Alexei Overchuk has said. That said, if Armenia decides to seek accession to the EU, Yerevan will lose some of the privileges it enjoys now, customs duties will be increased, and gas prices will change, Overchuk said.
Pashinyan said in comments on the situation that Armenia did not seek to leave the EAEU, nor was it ready to join the EU as of now. The country's goal is reform and adaptation to EU standards, he said.
