MFA: Russia does not intend to pay for consequences of Armenia`s  steps toward European integration

ArmInfo. Russia does not intend to pay for the consequences of Armenia's steps toward European integration, as stated by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).

 "The question of where Armenia is heading and with whom it will further build its political and state future is a  legitimate one Of course, we do not intend to use the undeniable bonuses and preferences Armenia receives from membership in the Eurasian Economic Union to finance Armenia's movement toward the European Union," the deputy minister said.

Commenting on restrictions on supplies of Armenian agricultural  products to Russia, he noted that "this is a decision by the relevant  authorities, driven by the need to comply with established  phytosanitary import regulations for certain types of products  entering Russia." "Whether these lost volumes need to be replaced,  and how they should be replaced, is a matter for the relevant Russian  government agencies," the diplomat added.

"Overall, we see that, on the one hand, Armenia declares its  commitment to cooperation within the Eurasian Economic Union, while  at the same time taking legislative steps toward launching the  process of accession to the European Union, which differs absolutely  in every respect from the EAEU, and membership in which is  incompatible with participation in the Eurasian Economic Union,"  Galuzin said.  According to him, Moscow therefore has "serious  questions for Armenia in this regard."

" It has legislatively formalized not only its intention to join the  European Union, but the very beginning of the accession process.  Yerevan has also hosted a number of EU-related events that were  openly hostile toward Russia, which is unsurprising given that the  European Union today pursues an openly anti-Russian, Russophobic, and  hostile policy toward us, essentially preparing for direct armed  confrontation with Russia while supporting the Nazi regime in Kiev,"  the Russian deputy foreign minister stressed. 

"We also saw how the Yerevan platform was used by the head of the  Kiev regime to spread absolutely disgusting narratives and threats  against Russia, including threats to strike Moscow on the sacred date  of May 9. Not a single representative of the host country's official  authorities rebuked this figure," the Russian diplomat recalled.