MP: Armenian premier’s proposal to abandon dollar within EAEU was appropriate

The proposal of Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan to start using the ruble instead of the dollar in trade was appropriate and stems from economic and state interests of our country, Armenian MP of the opposition faction ‘Prosperous Armenia’ Mikael Melkumyan said today at discussion on the possibility of adopting a single currency within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). To remind, PM Abrahamyan voiced that proposal at the meeting of prime ministers of EAEU member states in Belarus. The proposal concerning mostly commercial deals on energy carriers sparked a heated debate. Prior to that, Russian President Vladimir Putin introduced a bill in the State Duma, proposing to abandon the dollar in the CIS. “Like any other union, the EAEU envisages the formation of a common economic space, one integral part of which is a system of mutual settlements. It means that sooner or later Armenia and its partners in EAEU will start using a single currency in organizing their trade, or at least, a single system of settlements in the initial stage,’ he said. Another participant of today’s discussion, economist Suren Parsyan said the process of establishing a common financial market within the EAEU is expected to finish by 2025 and by that time the matter will no longer concern the adoption of a single currency. “When joining the EAEU, Armenia did not assume an obligation about a single currency. It is the next stage of integration,” he said.