Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced in a parliamentary address that his country would soon launch the official process for applying to join the European Union.
Pashinyan said the application was necessary for Armenia to obtain information about possible EU membership and establish a timetable for the required reforms. The prime minister said the process would require comprehensive work and noted that Yerevan was also taking into account the persistent demands of its partners in the Eurasian Economic Union.
Armenia’s position on the Collective Security Treaty Organization
Pashinyan said he would welcome the Collective Security Treaty Organization expelling Armenia from its membership. He said such a decision would spare his country from having to choose whether to leave the organization, adding that Armenia’s interest in the organization had been exhausted.
The Armenian prime minister also noted that his country did not plan to return to the Collective Security Treaty Organization within the next five years.
Demand concerning the South Caucasus Railway
Pashinyan also called on Armenia’s Russian partners to show flexibility regarding the sale of the South Caucasus Railway to a third party. He said the railway belonged to Armenia, while its operations were managed by Russian Railways.
Arguing that the railway’s operation under Russian management risked causing Armenia to miss the opportunity to integrate into the international railway network, Pashinyan said the TRIPP project did not envisage any foreign military or armed presence.