Armenia will not hold a referendum on whether to leave the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) for the European Union unless and until membership of the latter becomes a realistic prospect, the country’s prime minister has said on Monday, in an apparent rebuke to calls from fellow EAEU states.
“Purely theoretical choice” – PM rejects referendum logic
It would be “illogical” to hold a referendum on choosing between the EU and the EAEU at the present time, according to Armenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan. In a video address posted on social media, the leader of the ruling Civil Contract party said that Armenia is working within the EAEU – and will continue to do so – until the moment when a choice between the two blocs becomes unavoidable.
“The timing of such a referendum is also a crucial question,” Pashinyan said. “At least until Armenia has formally applied for EU membership or is close to receiving candidate status, holding any kind of referendum makes no sense. Because, in essence, there is no basis, no balance has been formed, that would allow us to offer the people a clear choice between two paths. Today, that choice is purely theoretical, and putting a theoretical choice to a referendum is not particularly wise – it would be wrong and unjustified.”
Consequently, Pashinyan continued, Armenia will continue to work calmly, without disputes or anxiety, within the EAEU, because “the country still has untapped potential in this direction, which will be used in the near future.”
“No dark corners” – Pashinyan on transforming ties with Moscow
The prime minister also touched upon relations with Russia, emphasising that Armenia attaches great importance to them. He reiterated that ties with Moscow are in a phase of transformation, which he described as a positive process.
“In this new situation, we are building a new kind of relationship, and I am confident we will succeed in this endeavour – not least because our relations with the Russian Federation are open and sincere, with no dark corners,” Pashinyan said.
EAEU allies call for referendum – Putin warns of economic hit
At the EAEU summit held in Astana on May 29, the leaders of the bloc’s member states issued a joint statement calling, among other things, for a referendum to be held in Armenia as soon as possible on whether to join the EU or remain in the EAEU. Following the Astana summit, Russian president Vladimir Putin warned that Armenia could lose 14% of its GDP if it left the EAEU.
According to official statistics, Armenia would lose nearly 40% of its trade turnover in the event of withdrawal from the Eurasian Economic Union.
