Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan mentioned Alexander Lukashenka in connection with his words in 2024 that, allegedly, “Armenians are needed by no one” except Russia and its partners in the post-Soviet space. He recalled this while discussing the choice between the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Panorama.am reports .
“Why is it constantly assumed as a prerequisite that we are a ‘bad partner’? What bad has the Republic of Armenia done to anyone that the President of Belarus stated: ‘Who needs Armenia anyway?’ How can one speak like that about a sovereign country?” Pashinyan fumed.
He expressed conviction that Armenia “is needed by China, the USA, the EU, Iran, Georgia, France, Poland, Germany, Great Britain” – just as all these partners are needed by Armenia itself.
Pashinyan reminded that Armenia has signed documents on strategic partnership with China, the USA, Great Britain, the Netherlands, France, and many other countries. It did not have such a number of partners before, he noted.
“Russia sees the problem precisely in this: either relations must be exclusive, or there should be no relations at all. We do not accept such an approach,” said the head of the Armenian government.
In August 2024, Lukashenka criticized Yerevan’s political course in an interview with journalist and State Duma deputy Evgeny Popov on the “Rossiya” TV channel. He then contrasted Belarus with other post-Soviet states that begin to “flounder” and “want to take something from Russia, but give nothing in return.”
“Who needs Armenians, besides us? No one. They are needed by no one. Let them develop their economy and focus on what they have. What France, what Macron? Tomorrow Macron will be gone, and everyone will forget about this Armenia,” Lukashenka then stated.
His words caused great indignation in Armenia and led to a strong deterioration of mutual relations, which remains relevant to this day.
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