Pashinyan: Armenia may choose neither EAEU nor EU

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the country has proved it is an important international partner and does not have to choose between the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union.

Speaking at a briefing on August 13, Pashinyan rejected the notion that Armenia has limited foreign-policy options, saying the country had demonstrated that it was “not a periphery” of the international community, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

“There should be no situation where someone says: ‘Armenia has nowhere to go, Armenia is not needed by anyone,’” Pashinyan said.

He said Armenia had proved itself to be “a responsible partner of the international community and a very important country”.

Commenting on Russia’s demand that Armenia hold a referendum on its European integration, Pashinyan said a referendum would be held if and when Yerevan applied for EU membership.

However, he also suggested that Armenia could ultimately choose neither bloc.

“There may also be a third option — neither the EAEU nor the EU: we do not want either,” Pashinyan said.

“And who said that everyone necessarily has to go somewhere?” he added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev