Kremlin Says Armenia’s EU Ambitions Clash with Eurasian Union Membership
Speaking in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Armenia’s pursuit of closer ties with the EU creates a conflict with its obligations as a member of the Eurasian economic bloc.
“Armenia is taking a course toward integration with another bloc. These are mutually exclusive processes,” Peskov told reporters.
He said the matter would feature prominently during discussions among EAEU leaders taking place alongside the Eurasian Economic Forum in Astana.
According to Peskov, Armenia’s recent legislative steps toward European integration have made the issue unavoidable in future talks. He noted that Yerevan has already adopted laws directing government institutions to pursue a European-oriented path.
“The agenda is not simple,” he said. “In addition to integration-related topics, there is also the difficult situation surrounding Armenia.”
Despite Moscow’s concerns, Peskov indicated that Armenia would remain involved in EAEU activities for the time being and that no immediate decision regarding its status in the bloc was expected at the upcoming summit.
He also argued that Armenia has benefited economically from membership in the Eurasian union, citing years of GDP growth linked to regional economic integration.
“We can clearly see the dividends Armenia receives from membership in the EAEU. This has meant several percentage points of GDP growth annually,” he said. “Whether the EU can provide the same is for Armenians themselves to decide.”
Peskov further suggested that full EU membership remains difficult to achieve for many countries, describing it as "an unfulfilled dream" for some aspiring states.
While stressing that Armenia is free to determine its own future course, he said Moscow expects further clarification from Yerevan regarding how it intends to balance its European aspirations with its existing commitments inside the Eurasian bloc.
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