Tuesday, April 14 2020 13:33

ArmInfo. In Armenia, the situation  with the spread of coronavirus is under control. On April 14, during  a video conference of the leaders of the EAEU member states, Prime  Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan said.

He noted that 1067 cases of coronavirus infection were recorded in  the country, 265 people recovered, and 16 deaths. <From March 16, a  state of emergency has been operating in Armenia, which has been  extended until May 14. Since March 23, the country also has a strict  quarantine regime, however, starting today, some concessions will be  implemented in it, expanding the list of industries in which economic  activity is allowed, and severe restrictions will be introduced in  the field of transport communications.

The government of Armenia also adopted a package of measures of 11  measures to mitigate the socio- economic consequences of the  pandemic, both for the population and for business>, the prime  minister said. Pashinyan emphasized that along with this, serious  measures are being taken to stimulate the economy and overcome severe  crisis phenomena, the inevitability of which is no longer called into  question. <Today we are facing challenges that threaten not only our  health systems and the health of citizens, but also create  unprecedented in nature problems for the economies of our countries.  Many experts already regard what is happening as a recession of the  global economy, which in its scale can be compared with the great  depression. The situation is compounded by the fact that it is not  known how long the pandemic will last and what its development will  be in the near future. Overcoming the problems caused by the pandemic  requires the maximum exertion of the forces of our governments>, the  prime minister said. The head of the Cabinet of Armenia also noted  that coordination of efforts and consolidation of measures of the  entire international community are required. <However, as we see a  way out of the situation to curb the pandemic and overcome the  crisis, many countries see measures based on the logic of  protectionism and restrictive measures of international trade.  According to some reports, about 70 countries have already introduced  bans or restrictions on the export of medical supplies and  pharmaceuticals, and it is possible that the number of these  countries will increase. The list of goods may also increase, and  this cannot but worry us.  For countries with limited financial  resources, this can have the most serious consequences. We support a  strategy based on the philosophy of cooperation and partnership, and  cooperation within the framework of our union is paramount for us,>  Pashinyan emphasized. The Prime Minister noted with satisfaction that  this strategy is supported by allies and friends in the EAEU. <I am  sure that our union will not only withstand the test of the economic  crisis, but will come out of it with minimal losses. Armenia is ready  to make every effort for this. Preserving peace, ending armed  conflicts and the unity of the international community is a  prerequisite for a successful fight against the challenges of the  pandemic and the economic crisis.

The backbone principle of our integration association is free trade,  and our actions should be based on the preservation of this  principle. Therefore, under the current conditions, we consider  unacceptable the introduction of measures that impede the movement of  goods in the EAEU>, he noted. Pashinyan stated that the  implementation of freight traffic with the EAEU countries is also  extremely important for Armenia.  <The Russian-Georgian border in  this regard has acquired vital strategic importance for us. Given the  uncertainty of the global financial system, we consider it necessary  to expedite the process of taking measures to maximize the share of  payments in national currencies within the EAEU. In the context of  the priority tasks facing our organization, I want to note the  provision of economic stability in the context of the development of  the pandemic adopted at a recent meeting of the Eurasian  Intergovernmental Council.  From the total number of measures I want  to highlight the creation of green corridors, it is obvious that the  simplification of customs procedures is of fundamental importance for  maintaining the external economic ties of our country. It should also  be noted the feasibility of measures by the Eurasian Development Bank  to provide credit assistance to countries participating in the  union>, the prime minister said. In conclusion, Pashinyan noted that  the pandemic situation is a kind of test for the EAEU. "The readiness  of our countries for cooperation indicates that integration has taken  place and has great development potential," Pashinyan concluded.