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🇫🇷 France /Elections & Politics

Putin urges Armenia to choose between the EU and the Eurasian Union

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • Vladimir Putin told Nikol Pashinyan that Armenia’s possible EU membership would create difficulties for its continued status in the Eurasian Economic Union.
  • Pashinyan said a law adopted last year to begin the EU accession process made a referendum unnecessary and that discussing an exit from the Eurasian bloc was premature.
  • The exchange took place at a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit after Armenia’s governing party secured a parliamentary election victory and pursued closer Western ties.

Vladimir Putin has again pressed Armenia to choose between its European ambitions and its place in the Eurasian Economic Union, calling for a referendum on EU membership “as soon as possible.”

Putin and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a tense exchange on Tuesday on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. It was their first meeting since elections in Armenia confirmed the Caucasus country’s shift toward the West.

as soon as possible

— Vladimir PutinPutin urged Armenia to hold a referendum on its intention to join the European Union.

Putin repeated Moscow’s view that Armenian membership in the European Union “would certainly create difficulties for maintaining its status within the Eurasian Economic Union.” He said Russia would need to adjust its trade and economic policies according to any decisions Armenia made.

would certainly create difficulties for maintaining its status within the Eurasian Economic Union

— Vladimir PutinPutin described Moscow’s view of the conflict between EU membership and Armenia’s Eurasian Union status.

Pashinyan replied that a law adopted last year, formally declaring Armenia’s intention to apply for EU membership, made a referendum unnecessary. He also said it was too early to discuss Armenia leaving the Eurasian Economic Union. Putin countered that adopting a law to begin joining another economic organisation amounted in practice to announcing withdrawal from the existing one.

Armenia had remained under Russian influence since Russia’s conquest of the Caucasus in the 19th century. In recent months, Pashinyan has pushed the country toward Western partners, and his party won the parliamentary elections in June. His stated goal of bringing Armenia into the EU has strained ties with Moscow, which has responded with sanctions against a major trading partner.

The adoption of a law initiating the procedure to join another economic organisation amounts in practice to announcing our withdrawal from ours

— Vladimir PutinPutin responded to Pashinyan’s argument that a referendum was unnecessary.
About this summary

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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