ArmInfo. Russia has no and cannot have plans to infringe on Armenia's interests in any way. This was stated in an interview with Izvestia by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin.
"We are not talking about Russia or anyone else wanting to exclude Armenia or cause damage in the context of our very developed economic cooperation. Our trade turnover last year amounted to about $12 billion, demonstrating significant growth. We have no and cannot have plans to infringe on Armenia's interests in any way. It is our ally, a strategic partner, with whom we are connected, just as with Georgia, by a centuries-old common history, a common victory in the Great Patriotic War, the 80th anniversary of which we will, I hope, celebrate together on May 9," the diplomat said.
According to Galuzin, objectively, simultaneous membership in the EU and the EAEU is impossible, since these unions have different customs and tariff regulations, and these are essentially different economic blocs. The Deputy Head of the Russian Foreign Ministry added that, accordingly, the Armenian colleagues will probably have to decide at some stage in which direction they are going: towards integration into the European Union or continued participation in Eurasian integration through the EAEU.
"This participation gives obvious benefits to the population of Armenia. And this is expressed, first of all, in very significant figures of Armenia's GDP growth. In the last year, it is about 6%. On the other hand, what is the European Union at this stage for Armenia and other countries? It is a set of requirements, criteria with vague prospects for accession. If Armenia follows the path of the European choice, this will objectively entail a revision of the established economic relations that Yerevan currently has with its partners along the EAEU line. This will probably be a rather painful process, including, unfortunately, for the population of Armenia. It is logical to assume that the country's leadership will explain to its population what it can lose by leaving the EAEU, and what it can really gain from membership in the European Union," he added.
At the same time, the Russian diplomat believes that these are mostly ephemeral ideologies, and not real economic cooperation. "Even today, Armenia's trade turnover with each of the EU countries is several times lower than with Russia. Not to mention that the EU is openly pursuing a hostile policy towards Russia, a key economic partner and strategic ally of Armenia. It consists of an already obsessive, manic desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia and weaken our country, to block any actions aimed at a political and diplomatic settlement of the crisis in Ukraine, to achieve peace, in attempts to drive a wedge in relations between Russia and its strategic partners and allies in the CIS, EAEU, and CSTO.
I hope that official Yerevan sees this situation and evaluates it accordingly. So far, Armenia has not withdrawn from any structures of the Eurasian Economic Union. We highly appreciate its successful chairmanship of the EAEU last year, 2024, so our cooperation continues. Representatives of the country also actively participate in all events of the CIS bodies, in all expert meetings," concluded Galuzin.
On January 9, the Armenian government approved the draft law on the beginning of the process of joining the European Union, proposed by the civil initiative "Eurakve". The draft passed both readings in the country's parliament in February-March and has already been signed by President Vahagn Khachaturyan. The country's authorities have not yet announced what further steps will be.
