Armenia’s PM Pashinyan Rejects Need For Referendum On EU Path

By PanARMENIAN

“At the working level, we discussed this issue with the Russian president, and I said what I have also stated publicly: until there is a de jure and de facto necessity to make a choice, we will not place such a question on the agenda,” Pashinyan said, according to Radar Armenia.

The prime minister also stressed that he does not agree with Putin’s use of the term “divorce.”

“I have said in parliament as well that we sometimes confuse interstate relations with marriage. Armenia is guided by interstate logic in its foreign relations, and we are a member of the Eurasian Economic Union like the other members. As long as we remain in the EAEU, we fully participate in decision-making. And since no such necessity has emerged, we do not intend to raise such a question. We will hold a referendum when there is an objective need for it. But my assessment is that such an objective necessity simply does not exist,” he stated.

According to Pashinyan, Armenia’s goal has never been and will never be to harm Russian interests.

“We will continue to be guided by Armenia’s state interests and continue deepening and developing relations with Russia, understanding that an inevitable transformation is taking place in those relations,” the prime minister said.

Pashinyan stressed that the changes in Armenian-Russian relations are objective in nature and not connected to his personality.

“There are questions, there are discomforts, there are nuances requiring clarification. But my assessment is that these issues should be addressed calmly, peacefully, without tension and without additional escalation,” he added.

According to Pashinyan, he maintains working relations with the Russian president based on mutual trust.

“We have discussed the sharpest issues in a calm, respectful and friendly atmosphere, relying on facts and arguments,” Pashinyan noted.

Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier stated that Armenia should clarify its position regarding possible membership in the European Union. He said Armenia’s plans to join the EU “require special discussion.”

“For example, a referendum could be held. It is not our business, but in principle it would be entirely logical to ask Armenian citizens what their choice will be. Based on that, we would draw conclusions and move toward a soft, civilized and mutually beneficial ‘divorce.’ After all, we are now witnessing everything that happened in the Ukrainian direction. And how did it begin? With Ukraine’s attempt to join the EU,” Putin said.