Menu
Latest
Menu
Latest
News

Pashinyan has a difficult phone conversation with Putin

28 July 2026

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday (27 July).

According to the website of the Russian president (kremlin.ru), the phone call was held on the initiative of the Armenian side. In a terse statement on the website it was stated that

Vladimir Putin reaffirmed his commitment to the Joint Statement by the leaders of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia adopted at the Eurasian Economic Union summit in Astana on May 29 regarding the Republic of Armenia's efforts aimed at joining the European Union. It was notably emphasised that Armenia needed to promptly hold a national referendum on whether the country should join the EU or remain in the EAEU.

    The website of the Armenian prime ministetr stated that

    "The interlocutors exchanged views on the agenda of Armenia-Russia relations, in particular, on problems emerging in bilateral economic relations.

    Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized that restrictions on the export of goods of Armenian origin to the Russian market contradict the Armenia-Russia legal framework and the regulations of the Eurasian Economic Union, and asked to take measures to resolve these issues.

    Regarding the holding of a referendum in Armenia on Armenia’s accession to the European Union, which is stated in the joint statement of the leaders of the four EAEU member states adopted on May 29, this year, Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized that holding a referendum is practically possible only after Armenia submits an official application to the European Union for EU membership and makes the topic substantive.

    At the same time, Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized the readiness of the Government of the Republic of Armenia to resolve the aforementioned issues through open, partnership-based and friendly dialogue."

    source: commonspace.eu with kremlin.ru and primeminister.am
     

    Related articles

    Editor's choice
    News
    Uzbekistan calls for bigger voice for Central Asia in the UN
    Trending

    Uzbekistan calls for bigger voice for Central Asia in the UN

    26 September 2026
    Uzbekistan called for a more effective and representative United Nations on September 23, as presidential administration chief Saida Mirziyoyeva used her address to the UN General Assembly to seek support for the country’s candidacy for a nonpermanent Security Council seat in 2035–2036. Speaking at the Assembly’s 81st session in New York, Mirziyoyeva argued that international cooperation remains necessary despite growing geopolitical divisions. She endorsed UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ UN80 reform initiative and called for an expanded Security Council, arguing that international rules should be applied consistently rather than according to the interests of powerful states. Uzbekistan’s planned chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement in 2027 was presented as another platform for promoting dialogue. Her emphasis on multilateralism also fits a broader Central Asian effort to increase the region’s role in international institutions. Kyrgyzstan, for example, will hold its first Security Council seat in 2027–2028. Mirziyoyeva also highlighted regional cooperation, pointing to improved relations among Central Asian states over longstanding border and water disputes. On Afghanistan, she urged countries not to view it solely as a security threat, stressing the importance of creating conditions for peaceful development. She linked Uzbekistan’s international agenda to domestic reforms, citing economic growth, falling poverty and expanded education. Climate and water security also featured prominently, with the Aral Sea serving as an example of the consequences of poor environmental management. (click image to read more)
    Editor's choice
    News
    Kazakhstan declares national day of mourning after tragedy
    Trending

    Kazakhstan declares national day of mourning after tragedy

    25 September 2026
    Kazakh president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, declared September 25 a national day of mourning following the deaths of servicemen during military exercises in the Caspian Sea. Twelve Kazakh servicemen died after being swept into the Caspian Sea during the Khazar Qorgany–2026 naval exercises in the Mangystau region on Thursday (September 24). The incident occurred after weather conditions suddenly deteriorated and winds intensified during a combat training mission. In a Telegram post, the Ministry of Defence reported that 19 servicemen had been swept into the sea. So far, three have been rescued, one of whom was hospitalized, while 12 bodies have been recovered.  Search operations were continuing for the remaining four servicemen. A large-scale rescue and recovery effort has been launched, involving Kazakhstan’s Naval Forces, the Ministry of Emergency Situations, aviation assets and other relevant services.   Deputy Prime Minister Kanat Bozumbayev, who is leading a government commission at the scene, ordered a continuous, round-the-clock search for those still missing. Authorities were also instructed to provide financial and other assistance to the families of the deceased. (click image to read in full)

    Popular

    Editor's choice
    Interview
    Thursday Interview: Murad Muradov
    Trending

    Thursday Interview: Murad Muradov

    15 January 2026
    Today, commonspace.eu starts a new regular weekly series. THURSDAY INTERVIEW, conducted by Lauri Nikulainen, will host  persons who are thinkers, opinion shapers, and implementors in their countries and spheres. We start the series with an interview with Murad Muradov, a leading person in Azerbaijan's think tank community. He is also the first co-chair of the Action Committee for a new Armenian-Azerbaijani Dialogue. Last September he made history by being the first Azerbaijani civil society activist to visit Armenia after the 44 day war, and the start of the peace process. Speaking about this visit Murad Muradov said: "My experience was largely positive. My negative expectations luckily didn’t play out. The discussions were respectful, the panel format bringing together experts from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey was particularly valuable during the NATO Rose-Roth Seminar in Yerevan, and media coverage, while varied in tone, remained largely constructive. Some media outlets though attempted to represent me as more of a government mouthpiece than an independent expert, which was totally misleading.  Overall, I see these initiatives as important steps in rebuilding trust and normalising professional engagement. The fact that soon a larger Azerbaijani civil society visits to Armenia followed, reinforces the sense that this process is moving in the right direction." (click the image to read the interview in full)
    Murad Muradov
    Lauri Nikulainen interviews Murad Muradov