ArmInfo. Armenia must decide on holding a national referendum on joining the European Union or maintaining membership in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) by December 2026, when the question of possible further steps regarding Yerevan will be discussed at a meeting of the heads of state of the EAEU. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin stated this in an interview with TASS.
"Obviously, if the call for a referendum is not heard by that time, the leaders will take this fact into account when determining appropriate further joint steps," he noted. The Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation recalled that "the joint statement of the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan of May 29 regarding Armenia's European aspirations speaks of the need to hold a national referendum in that country on joining the EU or remaining part of the EAEU as soon as possible, but without specifying a specific date."
"At the same time, it has already been indicated that this issue will be discussed again during the December meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, when the heads of state will be required to present a report on the possible consequences of suspending the EAEU Treaty of May 29, 2014, with respect to Armenia," Galuzin stated.
He also stated that the issue of stripping Armenia of its voting rights in the CSTO could be considered at the organization's summit on November 11.
"Any decisions regarding the possible adoption of restrictive measures against one of the organization's members fall entirely within the prerogatives of the Collective Security Council (which includes the heads of state of the CSTO member states), which has the right to make such decisions based on the provisions of the organization's charter (regarding your question, the applicable provisions are contained, in particular, in Articles 20 and 25)," Galuzin said, responding to a question about invoking the relevant article of the charter regarding non-fulfillment of obligations. "The next meeting of the Council will be held in Moscow on November 11."
According to him, the CSTO Charter is an international treaty and must be faithfully implemented by all its parties, including the obligation of each member state to finance the activities of the CSTO bodies.
"Yerevan's refusal to participate in the organization's work and its failure to sign annual decisions on its budget merely signifies a failure to exercise its right, but does not terminate Armenia's obligation to make timely payments of its national contribution," the senior diplomat noted. "Based on the principle of maintaining institutional effectiveness, any international organization has procedures for this situation, as stipulated in its founding documents. The CSTO is no exception," said the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.
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