Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has warned that a failure to quickly resolve restrictions on Armenian exports could mark “the beginning of the end” of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
The restrictions are at the centre of a dispute between Russia and Armenia, in which Moscow blocked imports earlier this year of Armenian products, including fish -- a major export industry for Armenia - flowers, fruits and vegetables and other products.
Pashinyan said the restrictions were not solely an Armenian problem, but a challenge affecting the functioning of the entire bloc.
Pashinyan also said the current situation showed that the Eurasian Economic Union was effectively paralysed because it had not done anything to solve the problem.
“If this issue is not resolved quickly, allow me to predict that this will mark the beginning of the end of the EAEU,” he added.
Earlier this week, Pashinyan had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he said the trade restrictions violated agreements between the two countries and breached the rules of the EAEU, of which both are members.
Pashinyan said he also told Putin that Armenia had the right to find different solutions.
“The Republic of Armenia has the legitimate right to develop alternatives for itself. I told the President of Russia that we have declared this course and we will follow it, especially now that the people of the Republic of Armenia have voted in favour of it,” he said.
“As I said during the election campaign, I cannot imagine ending up in a situation as a result of our policies where the Republic of Armenia has no alternatives,” he said.
Pashinyan has also addressed the possibility of holding a referendum on whether Armenia should pursue membership of the European Union or remain in the Eurasian Economic Union.
He said Armenia would first need to formally apply for EU membership before such a referendum could be held.
Moscow has already warned Armenia that it could be suspended from the EAEU if it continues pursuing EU membership.
Armenia is heavily dependent on Russia for energy supplies, while Russia accounted for about 35% of Armenia's foreign trade last year.
Visitors to Armenia could face temperature screening after a lab worker died from suspected Pneumonic plague in Russia, Yerevan’s Health Mini...
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has called for further integration of infrastructure between regional countries to bolster the ...
The Saudi-led coalition says it has carried out a series of military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen...
Russia's health watchdog said on Tuesday that no cases of plague had been detected among anyone who had come into contact with a Siberian plague institute laboratory worker who died last week, and locals said their lives had barely been disrupted.
Russia struck Ukraine overnight in one of the biggest attacks of the conflict, killing at least 19 people, Kyiv's Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday. Around 70 missiles were fired at Ukraine during the attack, as well as drones, the Ministry said.
An Azerbaijani citizen died and another is missing after a cargo ship was attacked by a drone in the Black Sea, near the coast of Romania on Monday, 5 October, Baku's Foreign Ministry has said.
A large Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow and the surrounding region has killed two people, damaged homes and sparked a major fire at a key fuel facility, according to Russian officials and military bloggers.
The German-Azerbaijani Connectivity Conference 2026 commenced on 6 October in Baku under the title “Mobilising Finance for Infrastructure, Transport, Logistics, Green Energy, and Digitalisation along the Middle Corridor.”
Azerbaijan’s Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov has called for further integration of infrastructure between regional countries to bolster the Middle Corridor trade and logistics network.
The Saudi-led coalition says it has carried out a series of military operations against Houthi targets in Yemen after attacks on two Saudi airports left three people dead and dozens injured.
Russian oil company Lukoil plans to expand its activities in Uzbekistan, with potential areas including geological exploration, hydrocarbon development and retail fuel sales. The plans were discussed during a meeting between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Lukoil founder Vagit Alekperov.
European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has said Georgia is a candidate country “only on paper,” prompting a rapid response from senior Georgian officials who rejected the characterisation and criticised Brussels.
United Nations Development Programme Administrator Alexander De Croo has warned the international community against turning its back on Afghanistan, pointing to a sharp fall in opium production while raising serious concerns about restrictions on women and girls.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment