Russian President Vladimir Putin pressed Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to clarify whether Yerevan intends to join the European Union (EU) during a meeting on the sidelines of the SCO summit in Bishkek on Tuesday.
“We would like to ask you to provide clarity on this issue as soon as possible,” Putin told Pashinyan, adding that he respected any decision made by the Armenian people on the issue.
“The sooner we have clarity, the better, because we also need to understand how to develop relations with Armenia, first and foremost in economic terms,” Putin added.
Pashinyan told Armenia’s Parliament in late August that the country would begin preparing to apply for EU membership “in the near future,” while stressing that Yerevan would hold a referendum on the decision before formally applying.
In the talks on Wednesday, Putin emphasised that Yerevan’s plans to join the bloc conflicted with continued membership of the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU).
“The adoption of a law on launching the procedure for joining another economic organisation essentially amounts to an announcement of withdrawal from our organisation, because membership of both at the same time is incompatible,” he added.
Pashinyan replied that it was too soon for Yerevan to make a choice between the EU and the EAEU.
“We understand that the time will come when it will be necessary to make a very clear choice. Our position is simply that this time has not yet come,” he said.
Russia is Armenia’s largest trading partner. Trade between the two countries was estimated to be $12 billion in 2024. Moscow accounts for more than 35 per cent of Armenia's trade turnover.
The EU, by comparison, accounts for only 7.5 per cent of Armenia’s trade. However, the bloc has recently made significant efforts to boost trade with the country, including removing tariffs on most Armenian exports and promising visa liberalisation.
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Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan have concluded talks in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, as leaders gather for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.
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Kyrgyzstan is hosting the sixth World Nomad Games, bringing together thousands of athletes from around the world for a celebration of traditional sports, cultural heritage and nomadic traditions.
The U.S. has launched a fresh wave of strikes on Iran, targeting Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites as Tehran retaliated against U.S. positions across the region, while Iranian officials said at least five people were killed and dozens wounded at a wedding near Sirik.
Pakistan has taken over the chairmanship of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif putting connectivity, artificial intelligence and regional security at the centre of Islamabad’s agenda for the bloc.
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) have gathered in Bishkek for a summit focused on trade, investment and transport as the group marks 25 years since its creation.
The European Union has added $17.4 million to its ongoing partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Afghanistan, extending support for climate-resilient livelihoods, school feeding and agribusiness as drought and food insecurity continue to strain rural communities.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) has ruled that India remains bound by the Indus Waters Treaty and must continue to comply with its obligations under the decades-old water-sharing agreement with Pakistan, despite New Delhi's decision last year to place the treaty "in abeyance".
At least 11 people, including eight children, have been killed after a powerful explosion at a firecracker factory in northern India, authorities said, with rescue teams continuing to search through debris amid fears the toll could rise.
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