Putin disagrees with Pashinyan over Armenia’s exit from EAEU

Russian President Vladimir Putin has disagreed with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan over whether Armenia’s decision to begin the process of joining the European Union amounts to an announcement of its withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).

Speaking at a press conference in Bishkek on September 1, Putin said Armenia could not simultaneously be a member of both the EU and the EAEU, citing differences in regulations and technical standards, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

“On the main issue, allow me to disagree with you after all,” Putin said, responding to a question from Interfax.

Putin argued that Armenia’s adoption of legislation to begin the process of joining the EU effectively constituted an announcement of its intention to leave the EAEU.

“You said that you had not announced your withdrawal. The adoption of a law to begin the process of joining another economic organisation effectively means announcing your withdrawal from ours, because membership in both is incompatible,” he said.

The Russian president pointed to differences between the two blocs, including phytosanitary regulations and technical standards, which he said currently made simultaneous membership impossible.

Putin also recalled Pashinyan’s statement that Armenia had neither withdrawn from the EAEU nor submitted an application to do so.

“When the prime minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, said that we had not withdrawn and had not submitted an application to withdraw from the EAEU, I said: how can that be, if you have adopted a law — they adopted a law to begin the process of joining the EU — then you have announced to us that you are withdrawing from the EAEU for some reason,” Putin said.

He further stressed the economic benefits Armenia receives from its EAEU membership, saying the country enjoys “quite substantial preferences” through its participation in the bloc, including benefits beyond energy prices.

“Using these preferences in working with us, all the benefits of cooperation with the EAEU and Russia, your country will seek to leave here. Well, let them say honestly what they want and what their goals are,” Putin said.

By Aghakazim Guliyev