Moscow reminds Yerevan of the incompatibility of Eurasian economic integration and EU membership
YEREVAN, January 24. /ARKA/. Russian Foreign Ministry said Armenia’s aspiration to join the European Union and its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) are incompatible.
In a commentary on the draft law on the beginning of Armenia's accession to the EU, approved by the government of Armenia and a parliamentary committee, Russia says Moscow has always cherished and continues to cherish brotherly relations with Yerevan.
‘We consider this country one of our natural strategic partners and allies. We are committed to the entire set of agreements with Armenia in trade-economic and military-political areas, formalized at the bilateral level and within the framework of common integration associations,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said.
It added that Russia has no hidden agenda or “projects”, which would have a detrimental effect on Armenia's security or economic well-being.
“This is confirmed by the indicators of bilateral trade. The estimates have not been finalized yet, but we can already say that the trade turnover in 2024 has set an absolute record. By the way, Armenia’s trade with the EU and the U.S., which call on it to abandon the Russian market, is much smaller and is also experiencing a decline,” the Russian ministry said.
It noted that Russia remains Armenia's main trade and investment partner.
“There is no doubt that Armenia's participation in the Eurasian integration has largely ensured the rapid growth of its GDP in recent years,” the Russian Ministry said, emphasizing that Eurasian economic integration and membership in the European Union are incompatible.
The ministry expressed hope that this year Armenia and Russia will make significant progress in the implementation of a number of important projects.
According to Armstat's latest data for the first 11 months of 2024, Armenia's trade with the EEU increased by 68.3% to $11.9 billion, accounting for more than 42% of the country's total foreign trade turnover, while trade with the EU, on the contrary, decreased by 14.1% to $2.1 billion or 7.5% of the total.
Earlier, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that Armenia has no plans to break economic ties with Russia and does not set the task of reducing the trade turnover with the EEU and Russia.
According to him, Armenia is on the path of economic diversification and wants to increase trade turnover with the European Union as well.
Pashinyan stated that Armenia can become a member of the EU only if the people approve this initiative in a referendum. He pointed to the need to discuss and develop a joint roadmap with the EU.-0-
