CIS Secretary General Lebedev: Question for Armenia about choosing EU  or EAEU is matter of principle

ArmInfo. The question of Armenia's intentions regarding the EU and the EAEU is a matter of principle, CIS Secretary General Sergei Lebedev told Vesti News  Agency.  "My opinion is that this issue will be discussed amicably. 

On the other hand, the fundamental question is:  are you choosing between the EAEU or the EU? The EU is too long a story; many countries want to join the EU, and the process of joining the EU drags on for years. But the EAEU is a reality that cannot be avoided now. A great deal depends on this. Armenia also recognizes the importance of the Eurasian Economic Union. Therefore, no one is planning to break with the EAEU, as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan and many other leaders have already stated. Therefore, cooperation will continue. As for the EU, we'll see," he added.

At the same time, Lebedev added that Armenian Deputy Prime Minister  Mher Grigoryan, who is participating in the meeting of the Supreme  Eurasian Economic Council in Astana in place of Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan, is a competent person. "But Deputy Prime Minister Mher  Grigoryan is here, a competent person with the authority to sign  documents, so, as far as I know, discussions are underway. Of course,  the EAEU and the EU are touching on the topic, but that will be known  now following the closed- format meeting," he noted.

The CIS Secretary General added that Pashinyan did not attend the  EAEU events in the capital of Kazakhstan due to the upcoming  elections in the country. "Well, they say Pashinyan didn't come  because of the elections because all the leaders there have left  their posts, everyone is due to the elections, and so he allegedly  can't come," he said.

Earlier, speaking to reporters, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol  Pashinyan stated that he would not be able to attend the Eurasian  Economic Union summit on May 28-29 in Astana because he is  participating in the election campaign. On May 9, Russian President  Vladimir Putin, speaking to journalists, suggested that Armenia  decide on its membership in the EU and the EAEU as soon as possible,  expressing its readiness to "begin a civilized divorce" if necessary.  Yerevan responded by stating that it would leave the EAEU whenever it  deemed it necessary.

It should be noted that on January 9, 2025, the Armenian government  approved a draft law on the initiation of the EU accession process,  proposed by the "Eurakve" civic initiative. The draft was submitted  to the Armenian parliament for approval. On March 26, the parliament  adopted it in its final reading and sent it to the president for  signature. The document was signed on April 4 of that year. Moscow  stated that Russia had conveyed to Armenia that simultaneous  membership in the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union was  impossible.