Yerevan warned long ago about risks of reviewing fuel, energy agreements in shift towards EU - Overchuk
ASTANA. May 27 (Interfax) - The review of the agreed terms of natural gas and petroleum product exports from Russia to Armenia if the latter joins the EU has long been a topic of discussion behind closed doors, and the Armenian government was aware of the risks, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk told journalists.
"We have been discussing this very openly with them for a long time. Obviously, this all went on behind closed doors. They know about all of it, they understand very well, but they still continue to do it [state intentions to join the EU]," he said.
After Armenia adopted a law to begin preparations for joining the EU last year, which was followed by declarations from the country's leadership to reiterate this intention, it became necessary to analyze possible consequences, Overchuk said.
Asked how exactly bilateral fuel supply agreements could be denounced and whether Russia would be able to simply notify Armenia about the termination of the contract, Overchuk said, "Yes, in this matter, we can just send a notification."
"If they want to be like in Europe, that means their prices should be like in Europe," Overchuk said.
Commenting on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's remark that Russia and Armenia had made "strategic agreements, and they should be adhered to", Overchuk said that these obligations should be viewed holistically alongside other agreements between countries.
Overchuk said that Armenia was currently fulfilling its obligations within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
"They are fulfilling their obligations within the EAEU. They understand that the EAEU is very advantageous for them; they understand that their quality of life and gross national income per capita have almost tripled in these 10 years, and, obviously, have grown very much in the 2020s especially. Trade [goods trade between Russia and Armenia] reached almost $12 billion in 2024. Last year, we slipped to $6.4 billion. But these are still enormous volumes for Armenia," Overchuk said.
