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
