Armenian PM: Free Trade Zone creates exceptional opportunities

Armenia's accession to the CIS Free Trade Zone will not impede Armenia's efforts in the field of European integration, Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan told the National Assembly of Armenia. The agreement on the FTA was signed on October 18 in St. Petersburg by 8 out of 11 CIS countries (except Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan), News.am reports.

Negotiations on the agreement began in 1992. The agreement was concluded in 1993 - 94 but, in the absence of ratification by Russia, it did not enter into force. Two years ago the talks were resumed at the initiative of the Russian side.

Sargsyan added the agreement will in no way impede the development of deep and comprehensive free trade between Armenia and the EU.