Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated at a press conference that, despite the country's comfortable position within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), the government cannot ignore the aspirations of a significant portion of the population to explore alternative paths for national development.
This statement comes amid the government's approval of a bill to initiate the process of joining the European Union, which has sparked a negative reaction from Moscow.
The prime minister emphasized the importance of developing real strategic alternatives for the country's future, noting that any discussion about Armenia’s strategic direction is impossible without the existence of a choice. According to him, Armenia’s balanced foreign policy is aimed precisely at creating organic, rather than artificial, development alternatives.
"This path is also a process where the difference between true and insincere friends may become evident," Pashinyan remarked.
The prime minister’s statement carries particular weight in the context of recent remarks by Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk, who has repeatedly asserted that the Armenian parliament’s adoption of the EU accession bill would mark the beginning of Armenia’s exit from the EAEU, stressing the incompatibility of membership in both unions.
Nevertheless, Pashinyan reaffirmed that Armenia remains committed to fostering relations between the EAEU and Iran.
