Aram Sargsyan says options with Russia exhausted

PanARMENIAN.Net - Republic Party chairman Aram Sargsyan wrote on Facebook that, in his view, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has "essentially exhausted all possible options for resolving the situation with Russia and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)."

According to Sargsyan, the conclusion is that Russia does not regard Pashinyan as a full-fledged partner in his capacity as Armenia's prime minister, and that "Putin, following Aliyev's example, is trying to impose a referendum on Armenia."

"If there isn't one, then there isn't one… On July 6, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended an event in Yekaterinburg that, from a protocol standpoint, was not appropriate for a head of government and met with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in an attempt to resolve the issue of Russian restrictions on Armenian goods.

In fact, the problem was not resolved. Moreover, the list of restrictions expanded, and Mishustin did not even congratulate Pashinyan on his re-election as prime minister.

Today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called Russian President Vladimir Putin on his own initiative. According to the information released, the Russian president demanded that Armenia comply with the position expressed by the EAEU leaders, clearly decide whether it intends to move toward the European Union or remain with the EAEU, and settle the issue through a referendum. Once again, the problem remained unresolved. Moreover, Putin also did not congratulate Pashinyan on his re-election as prime minister.

Essentially, the prime minister has exhausted every possible option for resolving the current situation with Russia and the EAEU. It appears that Pashinyan's earlier remark that 'there is no EAEU' is becoming reality. If there isn't one, then there isn't one.

In my opinion, the conclusion is that Russia does not perceive Nikol Pashinyan as a full-fledged partner in his role as Armenia's prime minister. Putin, following Aliyev's example, is trying to impose a referendum on Armenia. To achieve this, he will probably activate his entire range of influence in the autumn, from political forces to church circles. If that fails to produce the desired result, he may sharply increase the price of gas supplied to Armenia closer to winter in order to strengthen a wave of public protest.

What should Armenia do?

• Withdraw from the CSTO.
• Leave the joint air defense system.
• Resume, under an accelerated procedure, the signing process for the EU Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, which remained unfinished in 2013," the post says.

Sargsyan added that the sequence of subsequent steps should be determined based on Russia's response to these three measures.

"Incidentally, neither Georgia nor Azerbaijan is a member of the EAEU. Moreover, Georgia does not even have diplomatic relations with Russia, yet its trade and economic ties with Russia, both direct and, in Azerbaijan's case, indirect, including through gas cooperation, are no less extensive than Armenia's.

Leaving the EAEU is Armenia's sovereign right. There is no mandatory legal requirement to hold a referendum either to join or to leave the union. And after withdrawal, Armenia will have partners ready to welcome and support it. Don't worry.

One thing, in my opinion, is obvious: countries that have left Russia's sphere of influence generally enjoy more democracy, stronger security and greater prosperity today than those that remain in the CSTO and the EAEU," Sargsyan wrote.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Pashinyan said restrictions on exports of Armenian-origin goods to the Russian market contradict the legal framework governing Armenia-Russia relations and EAEU regulations, and asked Putin to take measures to resolve the issue. The Kremlin said the telephone conversation took place at the initiative of the Armenian side.