Armenia Would Decide to Leave Both the CSTO and EAEU if Moscow Takes Such a Step, Says Alen Simonyan

YEREVAN — National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan said Armenia would make its own decision and withdraw from both the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the Eurasian Economic Union if Moscow were to make a hostile decision affecting Armenia.

Speaking about the recent meeting between Nikol Pashinyan and Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Simonyan said the Armenian prime minister spoke from the position of an independent and sovereign state.

“The Prime Minister of Armenia spoke in Moscow from the standpoint of an independent, sovereign state, and I watched with pride,” Simonyan said, describing his impressions of the Putin–Pashinyan meeting.

Asked whether the Moscow meeting gave the impression that Armenia was being warned about possible dangers or spoken to in the language of ultimatums, Simonyan responded that such conversations are not new. He pointed to similar discussions over the years concerning trade and gas prices.

He stressed, however, that if such a decision were ever made, Armenia would respond decisively.

“If such a decision is made, Armenia will make its own decision and will finally leave both the CSTO and the EAEU,” the parliament speaker said during today’s briefing.

At the same time, Simonyan added that he does not believe the situation will reach that point, noting that the leaders of the two countries later had what he described as a “very good conversation.”

“When we reach a point where we see something related to concrete actions, either I or a government representative will comment. I am saying that a conversation is taking place. We have said, and I repeat, that we have done nothing against the Russian Federation, will not do anything, and do not intend to do anything. But at the same time, we have protected and will continue to protect the interests of the Republic of Armenia,” he said.

Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan was also asked what risks Armenia’s economy could face if gas prices were changed and Armenia decided to leave the EAEU and CSTO, as Simonyan suggested.

Papoyan first said he does not believe gas prices will rise, then argued that the economic benefits of membership have not been especially significant.

“I believe the gas price will not change, because Armenia is needed by its partners to remain in both the CSTO and the EAEU. And if Armenia is not to receive those benefits, then why should it remain in that union? The process of joining another union would begin in a more accelerated way,” the economy minister said.

He added that Armenia existed and functioned before joining the EAEU and argued that the country’s economy had not seen “astronomical growth” as a result of membership.