Samvel Karapetyan: Armenia will be guided by its own interests in  relations with the EU

ArmInfo.There is no intention to suspend the bill on Armenia's assessment to the European Union,  but it must be remembered that Europe is not waiting for Armenia, as stated by Samvel Karapetyan, leader of the Strong Armenia party, at a press conference in Yerevan.  Karapetyan presented his stance when  asked how his party intends to navigate a situation where Russia remains Armenia's primary strategic ally while the Armenian parliament has passed a bill to begin the EU accession process.

"I would like to remind you that I hold a passport from an EU member  state [Cyprus — Ed.]. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan does not. He  does nothing but talk about the European Union. I would not want this  law to be suspended, but I am certain it will not take us very far,  as no one is waiting for us in Europe.  No one can show me a country  that does not share a border with an EU member state but has managed  to join the Union," Karapetyan noted.

Furthermore, the party leader urged the public to consider what  happened to countries that chose the path of rapprochement with the  EU, citing Ukraine and Georgia.  "We will continue to 'dance and  sing' with the European Union as much as possible. However, as soon  as this disrupts our country's balance with regional powers and  brings us hardships, we will abandon this agenda. On the other hand,  if it serves our country's interests and our people derive some  benefit, rest assured that nothing will restrain me—not Russia's  statements, nor my good ties with that country. My primary goal is to  ensure Armenia's interests and the well-being of the Armenian people.  I do not intend to act as a 'tourist' like Nikol Pashinyan—running  around for eight years and wastefully spending money. Let them show  what this has brought to our country. For example, he went to Prague,  and our country achieved 'peace' in Artsakh, only without the  Armenians. I have no intention of engaging in that type of tourism. I  will be focused on developing our country," Karapetyan concluded.