Armenia has not violated any obligations within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and has no intention of doing so, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said, commenting on a report outlining the possible consequences of suspending Armenia’s membership.
“Our EAEU partners say in the report that the Vienna Convention contains a provision allowing an EAEU member state to be expelled or have its membership frozen. Yes, such a provision exists, but it applies under very specific circumstances or on particular grounds,” he said, Radar.am reports.
The minister stressed that such a measure requires the member state that other partners in an international or integration organization are dissatisfied with and wish to remove to have violated its obligations.
“Therefore, from a legal standpoint, I understand that our partners may have made efforts to find legal grounds, but I disagree with the justifications being presented. We all understand that legal considerations are one thing, but there is a political motivation here,” Ararat Mirzoyan emphasized.
The minister also assured that Armenia would continue to fulfill its obligations within the organization, as well as its bilateral commitments, in good faith and would not violate them.
“Unfortunately, however, we have seen examples of the opposite in recent months. Our position is as follows: whatever happens, our decisions and actions are centered on our statehood, the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, and our right to make independent decisions. We will not make these matters subject to bargaining,” he stressed.
On October 20, a report by the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, comprising Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, was published on the potential consequences of suspending the application of the EAEU Treaty to Armenia. The report outlined the possible implications of suspending Armenia’s membership in the union. In such a scenario, the price of imported natural gas could increase by 69%, rising from the current $177.50 to $300 per 1,000 cubic meters.
