Russia proposes that EAEU member states discuss the issue of Armenia and there was

While the domestic political life of Armenia lives in the hot pre-election mode, overshadowing many foreign political issues, the unprecedented situation created in Armenian-Russian relations continues to be widely discussed among political circles and society. People doing business in Russia are especially concerned about the issue, who may be targeted by Russia’s economic sanctions and restrictions.

The other day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov referred to Armenia’s European aspirations, declaring that the European Union is pulling Armenia into its orbit, and Yerevan is in danger of losing all its privileges within the EAEU framework. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said during the press conference held on the results of his participation in the BRICS ministerial meeting in New Delhi that Russia has close but not easy relations with Armenia.

“Those relations are close, allied. But at the same time, they are not easy,” Sergey Lavrov said, asserting that the West is trying to subjugate Armenia, like some other CIS members, “to break Armenia’s mutually beneficial economic, trade, and investment ties with its partners in the CIS and EAEU.”

“It is true, I heard that Prime Minister Pashinyan mentioned that he is busy with pre-election affairs and will not be able to go to the meeting of the leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union. It would be sad, of course, because this is a good opportunity to discuss the things that are hanging in the air,” the Russian Foreign Minister added.

Lavrov noted that EAEU member states will be able to discuss the issues related to attempts to bring Armenia into the sphere of influence of the West at the unification summit to be held in May. “Now, I think, will be an optimal opportunity to discuss the problems that arise due to the fact that the European Union insists on bringing Armenia into its sphere of influence, including at the cost of risking the privileges that Armenia has under the Eurasian Economic Union.

The opportunity to honestly and sincerely discuss all these issues will appear at the end of the last week of May, when the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, the summit, will take place in Kazakhstan,” Lavrov said. This was followed by the Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk’s reference to the topic, who noted that at some stage the Armenian leadership will have to choose between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), if it makes such a decision.

“There they talk about the desire to get closer to the European Union. We have repeatedly said that membership in EAEU and EU are incompatible. Armenia also understands this very well, its leaders also talk about it, that these things are incompatible. At some stage, they will have to make such a choice, if they decide to make such a choice,” he told “Russia-Islamic World. within the KazanForum” forum.

Earlier, the Russian president spoke about Armenia’s European integration aspirations, saying that Russia will accept any decision of the Armenian people. He also spoke about the possibility of holding a referendum on the issue. This was the second reference of the Russian President to the topic after the meeting with Pashinyan on April 1.

168.amin a conversation with Russian analyst Vladimir Yevseyev said that each country should decide its own foreign policy, which also applies to Armenia. However, according to him, the Russian side, as a partner of the Republic of Armenia in EAEU, wants to understand how Armenia’s European integration agenda will be combined with Eurasian integration, when they have many contradictions.

In addition, according to him, they are not only not compatible, but also there is a complicated geopolitical situation, and Russia, EAEU and the EU are in opposite camps.

“I think that all references from Russia are aimed at him in order to bring clarity to the existing situation. It is clear that Armenia can decide its foreign policy as it wants, but Russia can decide that some issues are not compatible with the Russian foreign policy or EAEU.

However, the EAEU is a multi-member structure, and Russia suggests that the member states discuss this issue and give their opinion on the situation. I think the issues will be discussed in EAEU with the participation of all member states. “This is the first case when an EAEU member state wishes to join the EU, and this should be discussed, all countries should express their opinion,” Yevseyev said.

However, according to him, the issue is clear for Russia. According to him, the Russian Federation does not accept this issue both politically, because it is in confrontation with the EU, and economically, because the EU and EAEU are different economic zones, different regulations apply.

“If RA really begins to approach the EU trade zone with its regulations, then RA-EAEU relations in EAEU will no longer be able to function normally. Therefore, this is a question that should be discussed so that problems do not arise during the work,” Yevseyev said.

—