Pashinyan administration to continue expanding export markets for Armenian goods

A senior official in the Pashinyan administration on Sunday said that the government intends to continue working with Russia to resolve all issues and again reiterated that Armenia’s current EU moves do not contradict its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Armen Grigoryan, the Secretary of the Security Council and a senior member of the Civil Contract party, told reporters after casting his ballot in the parliamentary elections that the government will continue to work with all countries where potential new export markets for Armenian goods can be found.

Grigoryan reiterated that there is no need for any referendum regarding a possible EU accession.

“As long as the relations with the two organizations—the EU and the Eurasian Economic Union—are compatible, we will continue this agenda. Membership in both organizations is incompatible; however, the level of relations we have with the EAEU as a member state, and the relations we currently have with the EU, are, we are convinced, compatible,” he said.

Grigoryan said Armenia will continue working with the Russian Federation in order to find solutions to existing problems.

“After the elections, emotions will subside, and in a calm environment it will be possible to discuss and find solutions. You know that the EU is ready to create new opportunities for Armenian goods, and we will work in that direction,” he said.

Secretary Grigoryan expressed confidence that the problems arising for Armenia in an artificial way will be resolved.

Armenia 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.

In response to that statement, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said 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.

In light of these developments, Russia has been imposing growing import restrictions on a wide range of Armenian goods in the run-up to the Armenian parliamentary elections held on June 7. This has prompted Armenian exporters to look for new markets, particularly in the EU.

Pashinyan is leading the Civil Contract party’s re-election bid.

PM Nikol Pashinyan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed during a phone call on June 4 the response to Armenia’s economic challenges and the further development of bilateral cooperation. The European Commission President reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting the strengthening of Armenia’s economic resilience and development programs. She said the EU is preparing a support package that includes over €50 million in immediate financial assistance, as well as additional measures aimed at expanding export opportunities for Armenian products and facilitating trade. “Today I spoke with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about Russia's recent restrictions targeting Armenia. This is nothing short of economic coercion, and it is unacceptable,” President von der Leyen said in the readout published by the European Commission.

President von der Leyen pledged targeted aid for affected sectors and deeper economic and connectivity cooperation with Armenia and announced that a joint EU–Armenia Task Force will be created to oversee the implementation of all these initiatives.