Armenia Challenges Russian Restrictions on Armenian Goods, Deputy Economy Minister Says

YEREVAN — Armenia has challenged restrictions imposed by Russia on Armenian goods and expects them to be lifted through mechanisms available within the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Deputy Economy Minister Tigran Gasparyan told reporters.

“Our contacts with Russia are important, but so are the opportunities available to us within the EAEU, because there are clear mechanisms that can be used to eliminate such barriers, and we are actively using them,” Gasparyan said. “We have filed a complaint, and we hope and are confident that these mechanisms will work and the barriers will be removed.”

Asked by Azatutyun whether Armenia considers Russia’s claims regarding alleged violations to be entirely unfounded, Gasparyan said the restrictions, in Armenia’s view, are inconsistent with the agreements and principles governing the EAEU.

“We are trying to use the EAEU’s mechanisms to ensure that those principles are restored,” he said.

Gasparyan stressed that Armenia considers itself a full member of the EAEU and expects all mechanisms and principles of the organization to function accordingly.

“We will continue working to ensure that these mechanisms operate because we consider ourselves a full-fledged member,” he said.

The deputy minister also emphasized the importance of opening new markets to ensure the future stability of Armenia’s economy.

According to Gasparyan, Armenian products entering international markets must meet increasingly high standards and generate greater added value. Improving quality and adopting higher standards, he said, are essential to achieving stronger economic growth.

Asked about the volume of Armenian exports to the European Union, Gasparyan said the government’s diversification policy should be viewed as a long-term strategy.

“I believe the path of diversification adopted by the government is the path toward long-term stability, and its results should also be assessed from a long-term perspective,” he said.