Pashinyan denies EAEU demand for referendum on Armenia’s EU bid

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has commented on a statement by the leaders of four Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) member states concerning a referendum on Armenia’s future ties with the European Union.

Speaking at a briefing following a government meeting, Pashinyan described the joint statement by the leaders of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as a friendly gesture rather than a demand, Caliber.Az reports via Sputnik Armenia.

“You say — a demand. But where is this demand recorded? The joint statement of the heads of state of the EAEU countries says that they support the idea of holding a referendum, but this idea originally belonged to us; we stated that at a certain stage we would move toward this,” he noted.

Pashinyan said he believes that, through the statement, the EAEU leaders essentially share Armenia’s position and do not object to the possibility of Yerevan deepening its relations with the EU, including potentially adopting an agenda for joining the European Union.

On May 29, the leaders of four EAEU countries adopted a joint statement regarding Armenia’s European aspirations. The statement said Armenia should hold, within the shortest possible timeframe, a referendum on joining the EU or remaining a member of the EAEU, without specifying a particular date.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin said Armenia needs to make a decision on holding a nationwide referendum on joining the European Union or maintaining its membership in the Eurasian Economic Union by December of this year.

By Jeyhun Aghazada