Armenia seeks to formulate alternative for itself, develop relations with other partners - PM

YEREVAN. July 30 (Interfax) - Armenia could hold a referendum on a choice between the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union (EU) if it applies for EU membership while it is currently in the process of formulating an alternative, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

"Russia wants us to make a decision on an alternative today, but we are currently in the process of formulating an alternative. We cannot raise this issue with our people right now. Before we do that, Armenia should at least apply for EU membership or have candidate status. Then holding a referendum will be logical and necessary," Pashinyan said at a news briefing on Thursday.

Problems with exporting Armenian goods to Russia and the EAEU markets arose because "Armenia decided to have political and economic alternatives," Pashinyan said.

"We had none before. Armenia signed documents on strategic relations with China, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Netherlands. In the past, Armenia didn't or couldn't have such relations with other partners. That's the problem. I can't speak about Russia's feelings. But I can say that Russia sees the problem precisely this way: either relations should be exclusive or there shouldn't be any. We're saying the opposite," he said.

"Why was Armenia a bad partner in 2022 that the CSTO failed to fulfill its obligations, that Russian peacekeepers in Karabakh failed to fulfill their obligations? What did Armenia do wrong that prompted the Belarusian president to claim, 'Who needs Armenia?' How can you say such a thing about a sovereign country? Now we're showing who needs Armenia. China, the U.S., Iran, the EU, Georgia, the UK need Armenia. And Armenia needs them all," Pashinyan said.