NA Speaker  believes that disagreements with Russia are an acceptable  political situation

ArmInfo.  Alen Simonyan, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, believes that the country's disagreements with Russia are nothing special, since "this is  politics, where everyone expresses their point of view." He expressed  this opinion in a conversation with a journalist, , Simonyan  dismissed the notion that Armenia is wavering between the Eurasian  Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union, asserting that the  government's position remains clear.  

Simonyane emphasized that the country remains a "full-fledged member" of the EAEU, accepting all associated rights and obligations.  "There is no discussion of [leaving] on our agenda," Simonyan stated. "Within the EAEU, all decisions are reached through consensus."

The Speaker also challenged reports suggesting that Russian President  Vladimir Putin intended to bring the issue of Armenia's ties with the  EU to the EAEU summit floor. Simonyan wondered where exactly Putin  had stated this. "Did he tell Kocharyan (second President of Armenia  Robert Kocharyan - ed.) personally or did he tell you personally? Did  he say he would include such an issue on the agenda? The problem is  that this position is being presented as fact, and I am being asked  to comment on it," he said, noting he did not share that assessment.   Simonyan reiterated that leaving the EAEU is not on Armenia's agenda.  "We don't have such a goal today; I think this is an emotional  statement, which is obvious in this tense situation," the speaker of  parliament noted.

Simonyan then  criticized the media's focus on external narratives,  questioning why domestic agendas are often sidelined in favor of  analyzing statements from Moscow or other foreign capitals. "You're  turning this into a narrative for Armenia. Why are you serving this  agenda? What's the point of all this?" the speaker of the Armenian  parliament asked.

Simonyan also commented on Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's  statement that "Armenia will remain in the EAEU as long as it is  compatible." "What, don't they need us? Why are they suddenly so  hesitant? They claim Armenia wouldn't even exist if it weren't for  Russia. So what are they discussing?  How come they don't need us?  That's politics—they express their point of view, and we express  ours.  They'll propose something, and we'll propose something else,"  Simonyan concluded.

Recall, during a press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin   suggested discussing Armenia's EU plans at the next Eurasian Economic  Union (EAEU) summit. The Russian President stated that it would be  right for Yerevan, both for Armenian citizens and for Russia, the  republic's main economic partner, to hold a referendum on developing  cooperation with the EU. In such a case, Russia could draw  appropriate conclusions and pursue a path of "a gentle, civilized,  and mutually beneficial divorce." It should be noted that Armenian  Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has repeatedly stated that the country  wants to join the EU, but in order to do so, it must meet its  standards. He noted that Armenia will remain in the EAEU as long as  it remains compatible. However, during talks with Pashinyan on April  1, Putin noted that being in a customs union with both the EU and the  EAEU is inherently impossible; it is an economic issue.