4 minute read
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan accused opposition leaders Robert Kocharyan, Samvel Karapetyan, and Gagik Tsarukyan during a campaign rally on Wednesday of creating problems for Armenia within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) by using their connections.
He made the remarks at a campaign event for the Civil Contract party in the town of Martuni, Gegharkunik province.
Pashinyan again referred to former President Robert Kocharyan, the leader of the Armenia Alliance, as well as Strong Armenia Alliance leader and business magnate Samvel Karapetyan and Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan as the “tripartite war party.”
“I know that there are concerns in Martuni about the processes taking place within the EAEU. The EAEU is based on four main principles: the free movement of goods, services, labor, and financial resources.
You know, today the ‘tripartite war party’ [the ‘Armenia’ alliance, the ‘Strong Armenia’ alliance, and the Prosperous Armenia party] is also creating problems for their own country during elections through certain ties and activities within the EAEU. Understanding that they have failed in the elections and will suffer a crushing defeat, they act like spies within the EAEU—calling, going there, and doing things that create problems for our country,” said Pashinyan.
The Prime Minister referred to the phone conversation he had with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 1.
“The President of Russia called to congratulate me on my birthday, but we also had a practical discussion, and we agreed that after the elections I would visit again, we would meet, and resolve all ongoing issues,” Pashinyan said.
Armenia, a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), was earlier notified by its union partners—Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan—that they would like to see a referendum in Armenia choosing between staying in the EAEU or withdrawing and moving toward the European Union. The developments come amid growing ties between Armenia and the EU, which Armenia says do not contradict its EAEU membership for now.
The statement addressed to Armenia was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.
In response to that statement, Pashinyan noted on June 1 that Armenia will continue to work within the Eurasian Economic Union framework until the point when choosing between the European Union and the EAEU becomes unavoidable.
The Prime Minister noted that there are currently no grounds for holding such a referendum, as Armenia’s European integration process is not yet at a stage where citizens can be presented with a clear choice.
“Until the point when Armenia has either officially applied for EU membership or is very close to obtaining candidate status, holding any referendum would be unreasonable,” Pashinyan said.
According to him, such a choice remains theoretical at this stage.
“Today, that choice is theoretical, and putting a theoretical choice to a referendum is, of course, neither very sensible nor justified,” the Prime Minister said.
Parallel to these developments, Russia has expanded its ban on imports of Armenian products, citing alleged phytosanitary violations, including fruits and vegetables, mineral water, and flowers.