Armenia’s status in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will be discussed by heads of state during the upcoming meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Astana on May 29, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said in remarks to TASS, describing Yerevan’s balancing act between the EAEU and the European Union as a “very difficult” issue.
“There will be a discussion on the topic of Armenia’s status in the Eurasian Economic Union. The issue is very complicated,” Overchuk said, adding that Moscow does not want Armenia to leave the bloc and hopes the country will continue to prosper.
According to the Russian deputy prime minister, Moscow is concerned about Armenia’s increasing engagement with the European Union while still benefiting from economic preferences offered by EAEU membership.
“We hear from the Armenian side that they are striving toward the EU and transitioning to European standards, while at the same time wanting to remain in the EAEU and continue using all the economic preferences provided by membership,” Overchuk said. He argued that Armenia should define its strategic course more clearly, saying such certainty would be fair both to Armenia’s EAEU partners and to Armenia itself.
He also warned that uncertainty over Armenia’s long-term direction creates difficulties for economic operators and complicates the establishment of long-term economic ties.
Overchuk stressed that Russia does not want Armenia to lose the economic advantages it currently enjoys and said Moscow has consistently supported Armenia’s economic development.
“The Armenian people are close to us, and we care about how they live and what the state of Armenia’s economy will be,” he said.