Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has warned that the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) could collapse unless restrictions on Armenian exports are resolved, Armenpress reports.
“We all now recognise that the problem is not Armenia. The problem is not Armenia, but the EAEU, because in reality the Eurasian Economic Union has become paralysed and is not functioning. If this issue is not resolved in the near future, I predict that it will mark the beginning of the end of the EAEU,” Pashinyan told journalists after a meeting of the Civil Contract party council on 29 July.
Pashinyan stressed that Armenia’s problems with the EAEU began after Yerevan declared its intention to join the European Union.
“Problems in relations with the EAEU arose under well-known circumstances — because the Republic of Armenia sought to find alternatives,” Pashinyan said (quoted by news.am).
According to Pashinyan, during his recent conversation with Vladimir Putin, the two sides reached an understanding that Armenia has the right to pursue an alternative course.
“The most important point is that the Republic of Armenia has the legitimate right to create alternatives for itself. I told the President of Russia that we have embarked on this path and will continue to follow it, especially now that the people of the Republic of Armenia have voted for it.
As I said during the election campaign, I cannot imagine that as a result of our policies we would find ourselves in a situation where the Republic of Armenia has no alternatives. The Republic of Armenia must always have alternatives on every issue; the era of having no alternatives is over. The question is when that alternative should be implemented,” the Armenian prime minister said.
Regarding the referendum mentioned by Putin, Armenia is prepared to hold one once it submits an application to join the European Union.
“I clearly told the President of the Russian Federation that a referendum cannot take place without there first being a concrete subject for it. Therefore, before holding a referendum, we must submit an application to join the European Union,” Pashinyan said.
Russia imposed restrictions on imports of goods from Armenia in response to Yerevan’s policy of closer ties with the European Union. Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Russia adopted a joint statement at the EAEU summit stating that Armenia should hold a referendum on joining the EU or remaining in the EAEU. On 27 July, Putin reminded Pashinyan about the referendum during a telephone conversation.
