Pashinyan: EAEU leaders` joint statement on Armenia should be viewed  as a friendly gesture, not a demand

ArmInfo. The joint statement issued by the leaders of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Belarus regarding the holding of a referendum in Armenia should be perceived as a friendly gesture rather than a demand. Prime  Minister Nikol Pashinyan made this statement during a briefing on  August 20.

Recall, on May 29, the leaders of the four EAEU countries adopted a  joint statement regarding Armenia's European aspirations. The  document addressed the holding of a referendum in Armenia concerning  EU accession or continued EAEU membership within a compressed  timeframe, though without specifying a concrete date.

In this context, Nikol Pashinyan disagreed with a journalist's  assertion that the move constituted a formal demand on official  Yerevan.

"You say it's a demand. Where is this demand recorded? The joint  statement by the heads of state of the EAEU nations states that they  support the idea of holding a referendum, but initially this idea  belonged to us—we stated that at a certain stage we would take this  step," he said.

The Prime Minister expressed conviction that the EAEU leaders  essentially share this position and do not object to Armenia  deepening its relations with the European Union, up to and including  adopting an EU accession agenda. Pashinyan noted that in  international practice, it is standard for states to raise questions  with one another and receive responses. Armenia's balanced and  measured foreign policy is a direct reflection of this approach,  aimed at diversifying ties and mitigating security risks through  cooperation with multiple power centers.

Pashinyan emphasized that Armenia maintains strategic relationships  with the United States, Georgia, China, France, the Netherlands, and  Kazakhstan while simultaneously remaining a member of the EAEU.  This  represents a distinct departure from past policies characterized by a  single-vector orientation, with strategic cooperation now advancing  across numerous fronts.

As an illustration, Pashinyan pointed to defense cooperation.  Previously, 85% to 90% of all military- technical cooperation was  channeled in a single direction, whereas today partnerships span  dozens of states—a shift underscored by the military hardware  showcased during the May 28 parade.