Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan rejected suggestions that Armenia could become a “new Ukraine,” responding to remarks by Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council.
Speaking to Euronews on the sidelines of the EU Enlargement Summit in Brussels, Pashinyan described Medvedev’s remarks as unconstructive, Auroranews.am reports.
“Armenia will remain Armenia. We want to become more independent, more sovereign and more integrated. At the same time, our European policy does not mean that we should detach ourselves from our own region. We must develop relations with our European partners while maintaining ties with our neighbors,” he said.
Pashinyan described the government’s approach as a “balanced and balancing foreign policy,” aimed at diversifying Armenia’s economic and political partnerships and reducing dependence on individual countries.
“We are diversifying our relations across all sectors, including the economy and politics. Our goal is to manage risks. It is important for us not to depend on a single partner and to have the ability to make independent decisions based on Armenia’s national interests,” he said.
The prime minister also addressed Armenia’s prospects for joining the European Union, acknowledging that simultaneous membership in two integration blocs would be incompatible under existing customs regulations.
He said Armenia would eventually have to choose between the two paths, emphasizing that the government sought to create a genuine alternative and that the final decision should reflect the will of Armenian citizens.
Pashinyan stressed that closer cooperation with the EU did not mean withdrawing from regional partnerships. Armenia, he said, remained committed to maintaining stable, mutually beneficial relations with its neighbors while expanding its ability to pursue independent foreign and economic policies.
During the summit, organized by Euronews, Pashinyan also discussed Armenia-EU relations, the peace process with Azerbaijan and developments in the South Caucasus.
