Armenian Parliament Discuss Sarkisian Proposal To Join Customs Union

Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian announced his country's participation in the Customs Union last week during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

YEREVAN -- Armenia's parliament is discussing President Serzh Sarkisian's announcement last week that Yerevan intends to join the Russia-led Customs Union.

Foreign Minister Eduard Nalbandian has been invited to explain why the decision to join the Customs Union of Russia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan was made without any consultation with parliament.

The session on September 10, which is being held behind closed doors, was initiated by opposition lawmakers.

On September 6, the EU's commissioner for enlargement and neighborhood policy, Stefan Fuele, said Armenia's obligations to the Customs Union would not appear to be compatible with an EU Association Agreement that is scheduled to be discussed and initiated in November at a summit in Vilnius.

Opposition activists are planning a march in Yerevan to protest Sarkisian's decison.