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The former Soviet nation, which Britains Foreign Office advises against travel to conflict-ravaged areas, are set to defy Vladimir Putins wishes to sign the deal with Brussels.

The Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement was finalised in time for president Serzh Sargsyans visit to Brussels earlier this week.

European Council president Donald Tusk after Mondays talks said it will broaden the scope of our relations.

In an interview with Euronews, president Sargsyan said: Because of the will of both sides, this agreement isnt so much different from the previous one.

EURONEWSGETTY

I think we can be useful for the European Union with the exports

president Serzh Sargsyan

They are no much different in political part, we have to make sure there are no contradictions with our commitments to the Eurasian Economic Agreement, which we are a member of.

Armenia has close ties with Russia, with Moscow supplying energy to the nation as well as maintaining a constant military presence there. President Putins troops have conducted several military exercises there amid heightened tension with the West.

However, president Sargsyan has stressed Armenias closer integration with the EU will bring Europe closer to Russias Eurasian Economic Union.

he said: At the very beginning of the negotiations, our understanding was that we can have both the association agreement with the EU and close integration with the Eurasian Economic Union.

In a show of defiance to Moscow, president Sargsyan added: Russians never told us we could never sign such an agreement, they told us, You can, but youll have to pay for energy at world market price.

The Armenian leader has used the potential deal, which could be signed as early as May, as a springboard to bring Nato and Russia together.

Ive met with the Nato secretary general. I invited him to Armenia for us to celebrate our work of the past 25 years, he added.

We dont see any contradiction between this partnership and our alliance with Russia within the framework of the CSTO.

On a lighter note, president Sargsyan was happy to crack a joke by suggesting Manchester United star Henrikh Mkhitaryan has already been a good export to Europe from Armenia.

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We have many famous people like Henrikh Mkhitaryan or chess player Levon Aronian, we have Olympic champions, he said.

I think we can be useful for the European Union with the exports of our wonderful agricultural products, IT is also very rapidly developing in Armenia, however, first of all, we can be a reliable and predictable neighbour for the EU.

The Foreign Office advises against travel to areas affected by the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, which have causes fierce clashes between the two nations.

On the night of February 24, the Armenian army attempted to infiltrate through Azerbaijani positions along the line of contact and seize favourable positions on the frontline.

However, the attack failed after Azerbaijani forces pushed back in a heavy battle. The neighbouring countrys defence ministry has claimed Armenias armed forces have violated ceasefire terms 265 times on March 3.

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EU expansion? War-ridden Armenia CONCLUDES European Union partnership deal - Express.co.uk