Russia Armenia Relations and Economic Cooperation

Dear Nikol Levaevich, dear friends!

I am very glad to see you.

First and foremost, I would like to emphasize the main point, that is where I would like to begin.

We have always advocated and continue to advocate for the development of friendly,

mutually beneficial relations with Armenia, based on the principles

of strategic partnership and

alliance. We proceed from the fact that this serves the fundamental interests

of the Armenian people and the fundamental interests of Russia.

Well, I will not repeat it again, we have noted this many times,

it corresponds

also

to the historical roots that bind our two peoples.

Russia is the republic's main trade and economic partner,

accounting for about thirty percent, and an investor in Armenia's economy.

In the first half of the current year,

trade turnover amounted to two and a half billion dollars.

Mutually beneficial projects are being implemented in the field of

industry and agriculture,

mining,

peaceful nuclear energy, transport, the digital economy.

Russian companies are the largest taxpayers

to the budget

of Armenia, create jobs, and transfer

modern technologies, strengthen energy security

of the country.

I would also note that we have repeatedly discussed

issues

related to Armenia's stated intention to join the

European Union.

We have repeatedly addressed this topic both by phone and in

personal conversations.

You know Russia's position well.

Armenia's aspiration to join the EU

is the natural, legitimate right

of the country and its people. This is

Armenia, a sover—

sovereign state.

It is for the Armenian people to determine

the direction of their development.

But this certainly creates difficulties

in

remaining in the Eurasian Economic Union and threatens to nullify

the Republic's advantages in the EAEU market

and the disruption of established trade chains.

Meanwhile, in more than ten years of participation in Eurasian

integration processes, Armenia's GDP grew almost

threefold.

In 2015, it was ten point six billion dollars, by the end of

2025, 29 point two billion dollars.

Well, that's all according to our statistics.

Exports to Union countries increased tenfold.

Today, the bloc's market accounts for around 36 percent

of foreign trade turnover.

Therefore, of course, the people of Armenia

must clearly express their views

on the country's further

political and economic course. But at the same time, as

we have said, it is important to take a strictly objective approach, based on

realities, and adopt appropriate measures.

And

I repeat once again

We will respect any choice of the Armenian people.

However

Armenia decides, that is how it will be.

But we must adjust our, our

trade,

economic policy in light of these possible decisions.

We would ask you to make a decision on this as soon as possible.

I remember, we publicly said that

you consider it necessary to later hold a referendum on this matter,

and I supported your position

at the last,

at the latest EurAsEC summit of heads of state.

I specifically mentioned that

Prime Minister Nikol Levaevich Pashinyan had announced this

publicly, and also asked our colleagues to support it.

And the sooner we decide, the better. Because

we also need to understand how we should develop

relations with Armenia, primarily in economic terms.

Some matters,

regulatory issues, for example,

agricultural products, issues of regulating various

technical norms and standards, are absolutely not

compatible in EurAsEC and the EU.

I've been through this repeatedly. Attempts, even when we

had more or less normal relations, to reach an agreement with the Europeans

on

some compromises led nowhere,

nowhere. They're fairly tough negotiators,

quite stubborn,

and so we found no

way to resolve almost any issue.

Well, perhaps,

someday,

perhaps we'll have to do that too, bearing in mind the fundamental interests

of both our economy and Europe's,

meaning,

their complementarity in some respects. I hope all these crisis phenomena will someday

pass, but even when they do, we had good relations with Europe,

and reaching an agreement was very difficult.

And in this regard, there will certainly be problems related

to the import

of European goods through Armenia into our market,

as well as services and so on. There are a thousand questions.

We would like to understand what will happen in this area.

But

I hope that now, in a calm, friendly, businesslike atmosphere, we

will discuss all these issues.