CIS says Armenia’s EU course will not go unnoticed

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has stated that it cannot ignore Armenia’s intentions to pursue European integration and the recent EU summit on Ukraine held in the country.

During a roundtable marking the 35th anniversary of the organisation, Secretary General Sergey Lebedev said Armenia remains a member of the CIS, CSTO and EAEU, while also benefiting from these organisations’ frameworks, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“We cannot ignore the recent EU summit on Ukraine held in Armenia and the country’s leadership position on joining the EU,” he noted.

Russian officials condemn Armenia for its pursuit of Western ties.

Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council Dmitry Medvedev has stated that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has taken a course toward a break with Russia, stressing that this should be “openly acknowledged.”

Medvedev said Pashinyan believes it is advantageous for him, squeezed between streams of various political currents, to build inflated authority in the West, while risking ties with Russia.

The Russian official has previously also said that the Armenian prime minister could “land painfully” if he ends up “between two chairs” of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union (EU).

According to Medvedev, Yerevan is simultaneously seeking closer ties with Europe while trying to retain the benefits of its membership in the EAEU.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov