Failure to quickly resolve Armenia export restrictions could mark beginning of EAEU’s end, Pashinyan says
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The situation surrounding export restrictions imposed on Armenia is not only Armenia’s problem but also an issue for the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said after a meeting of the Civil Contract party’s board, warning that failure to resolve the issue promptly could mark “the beginning of the end” for the bloc.
“We all acknowledge now that this is not Armenia’s problem. Armenia is not the issue. It is the EAEU’s problem, because what is effectively happening is that the Eurasian Economic Union is paralysed and not functioning. If this issue is not resolved quickly, allow me to predict that this will mark the beginning of the end of the EAEU,” Pashinyan said.
The prime minister also commented on his conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying the two sides had reached a common understanding on a number of issues.
“The most important thing is that the Republic of Armenia has the legitimate right to develop alternatives for itself. I told the President of Russia that we have declared this course and we will follow it, especially now that the people of the Republic of Armenia have voted in favour of it,” Pashinyan said.
According to him, Armenia must have alternatives in every sphere.
“As I said during the election campaign, I cannot imagine ending up in a situation as a result of our policies where the Republic of Armenia has no alternatives. Armenia must always have alternatives in every matter, and the era of having no alternatives is over. The question is when those alternatives should be put into practice,” the prime minister said.
Commenting on the possibility of a referendum on choosing between membership of the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, Pashinyan said that before such a referendum could be held, Armenia would at least need to have formally applied for EU membership.