Armenia To Remain In EAEU Membership As Long As It Sees Fit, Minister Says

By PanARMENIAN

Key Takeaways:

• Armenia’s Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said the country will remain in the Eurasian Economic Union for as long as it considers membership appropriate, while criticizing the “disgraceful terms” of its original accession and arguing that Armenia contributes more than it receives.
• He stressed that each state has the right to decide independently whether to join or leave an international organization and affirmed that Armenia continues to meet all its EAEU obligations.
• The remarks follow Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that Armenia has no current plans to withdraw, even as partners have raised questions about its future direction and while procedures for a possible EU-membership referendum remain incomplete.

Armenia will remain a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) for as long as it considers membership appropriate, Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan said during a press briefing at the National Assembly.

“Armenia joined the EAEU on disgraceful terms. There were discussions about increasing our share, including proposals from various countries, not just ours, but there was no agreement,” Papoyan said, Panorama.am reports.

The minister stressed that each country has the right to decide independently whether to join or leave an international organization.

“We are members of the EAEU and will continue to remain in the EAEU for as long as we consider it right. We have fully fulfilled and continue to fulfill our obligations within the EAEU. Armenia contributes much more to the EAEU. Armenia should be receiving more from the EAEU than it currently does,” he said.

Papoyan’s remarks follow comments by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who said Armenia currently has no plans to withdraw from the EAEU, although its partners in the bloc have raised questions about the country’s future direction and the possibility of a referendum.

Pashinyan noted that a referendum on EU membership cannot yet be held because the necessary procedures have not been completed.

“In order to organize a referendum on Armenia’s accession to the EU, we must first go through certain procedures, and we are moving along that path,” he said.