Armenia to continue economic diversification even if problems with Russia are resolved - Pashinyan

YEREVAN. Aug 13 (Interfax) - Armenia will continue to diversify economic relations even if the problem with Armenian exports to Russia is resolved, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

"Regarding the EAEU, I've said the problem is essentially that Russia expects exclusive relations, but we disagree with that. We must diversify our relations one way or another. Our agenda will not change even if the export problems are resolved," Pashinyan said at a briefing.

Pashinyan and Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed economic relations in a July 27 phone call. The Armenian government's press service reported that Pashinyan said Russia's "restrictions on imports of goods from Armenia were at variance with the Armenian-Russian international treaty framework and the provisions of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), and asked for measures to be taken to resolve the issues."

Russia's Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) banned flower shipments from Armenia on May 22. Rosselkhoznadzor also imposed temporary restrictions on fresh tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, green vegetables and strawberries from the country on May 30, on cherries, sweet cherries, apricots, plums, peaches and nectarines, as well as fresh grapes on June 2 and on pome fruit, eggplants, potatoes and dried fruit on June 3. It said on June 2 that Armenia must suspend certification of live fish and fish products for export to Russia. Rosselkhoznadzor has restricted imports of dairy products from Armenia since July 27.

Yerevan's push for closer ties with the European Union and discussions about Armenia's possible future accession have provoked a negative reaction from Moscow. "No one is pushing Armenia out of the EAEU [Eurasian Economic Union], they just said they wanted to join the EU. They simply need to make a decision, and the sooner they do so and the sooner there's some certainty, the better for everyone," Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) council head Alexei Overchuk has said. That said, if Armenia decides to seek accession to the EU, Yerevan will lose some of the privileges it enjoys now, customs duties will be increased, and gas prices will change, Overchuk said.

Pashinyan said in comments on the situation that Armenia did not seek to leave the EAEU, nor was it ready to join the EU as of now. The country's goal is reform and adaptation to EU standards, he said.