During my visit to Russia, one of our colleagues claimed that the Armenia-EU partnership harms Russia's interests. I responded that we do not have such a goal, and asked to give at least one example of what material harm this cooperation has caused to Russia, but in response there was silence. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is on vacation and heads the ruling Civil Contract party’s proportional representation list of candidates for Armenia’s parliamentary elections on June 7, told this to reporters Thursday.

Pashinyan added that he had asked this question for the second time, but the answer was silence again.

According to him, the other election participants, as well as observers—including those outside Armenia, are trying to give these elections a geopolitical context or subtext, but they cannot have such a nature, since Armenia pursues a balancing and balanced policy.

“There is no conspiracy or action against anyone in our policy. We say transparently that Armenia and its people should always have an alternative. There is the EU and the EAEU, and our people should have the opportunity to decide which strategy is the most promising and beneficial for them. There is no room for resentment or argument, we will not enter into disputes,” Pashinyan noted.

He added that Armenia has clearly stated that it will not join the sanctions against Russia, but it will also not take steps that could lead the country to be under sanctions.

“We have said this transparently to both Russian and European Union partners. Naturally, we do not want to do anything against Russia, but we have a line: if we feel that by taking any step we ourselves will fall under sanctions, we will not take those steps. With all due respect, we ask to approach this with understanding, because if Russia can be under sanctions and endure, Armenia cannot," the premier concluded.

Source: https://news.am/en/news/1035370