“Naturally, Armenia’s aspirations to join the EU are of concern because such aspirations are incompatible with this country’s membership in the EEU (Eurasian Economic Union), and we talk about this in our numerous contacts with our Armenian colleagues,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told reporters in Moscow.
“It is well known that thanks to its participation in the EEU Armenia is developing dynamically, and economic growth is observed in all key areas for Yerevan,” Grushko said, according to the TASS news agency. “And this is a huge asset that Armenia risks losing if the West draws it into its geopolitical game in an attempt to tear Armenia away from Russia and other natural allies.”
Senior Russian officials have repeatedly issued such warnings since the Armenian government endorsed in January a bill declaring the “start of a process of Armenia's accession to the European Union.” They have warned that the South Caucasus nation risks losing its tariff-free access to Russia’s vast market and having to pay much more for Russian natural gas and foodstuffs.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian’s government ignored those warnings, pushing the bill through the Armenian parliament last month. Government officials stressed that it does not amount to an EU membership bid. Yerevan has still not clarified what it is planning to do next.
Russia accounted for over 41 percent of Armenia’s foreign trade last year, compared with the EU’s 7.7 percent share.
No EU member state has officially voiced support for Armenia’s eventual membership in the 27-nation bloc. Nor has the EU’s executive body, the European Commission, welcomed the Armenian bill passed amid Yerevan’s unprecedented tensions with Moscow.
The fresh Russian warning issued through Grushko came amid Pashinian’s apparent efforts to ease those tensions. The Armenian premier will attend on May 9 a military parade in Moscow dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.
