News - Armenia ruling power lawmaker: Eurasian Economic Union membership has no alternative for us at the moment

In at least the last few years, the Republic of Armenia, being a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), has achieved quite a lot of success, including economic ones. Vagharshak Hakobyan, an MP of the ruling majority Civil Contract Faction and Deputy Chair of the Standing Committee on Regional and Eurasian Integration of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, said this in a briefing with reporters at the NA Tuesday—and when asked whether Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan will participate in the upcoming meeting of the EAEU. According to Hakobyan, last year Armenia had an economic growth of 12.7%, which was one of the best not only in the region, but also at the world level, and the country had all these achievements while carrying out activities within the EAEU. "And it is very normal for us [Armenia] to participate in the meetings of the EAEU. We get information about the prime minister's visits officially from government sources and announcements; and allow me to make a reference to government sources. I said my opinion. And I believe that EAEU membership has no alternative for us at the moment, and EAEU membership brings quite positive things to our country," emphasized Hakobyan. And when asked why, in that case, the Armenian PM did not attend the meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, the ruling force lawmaker noted as follows: "You know that in recent times we [Armenia] did not participate in some CSTO [(Collective Security Treaty Organization)] events, and this lack of participation was also commented on. It was commented not only at the working level, but also publicly. Whenever the shortcomings of the CSTO are recorded, the Republic of Armenia speaks about it at all levels, and speaks very directly, and speaks in accordance with the state interest of the Republic of Armenia."