But Pashinian indicated that he is still in no rush to hold a referendum on joining the EU or remaining part of a Russian-led trade bloc essential for the Armenian economy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin first called for such a referendum following two European summits held in Yerevan in early May. The leaders of the three other EEU member states -- Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan -- backed the demand in a joint statement with Putin adopted during a May 29 summit boycotted by Pashinian.
Pashinian initially scoffed at the move. But he later softened his rhetoric, saying that Yerevan needs to make a formal EU membership bid before holding the referendum. He made the same point when presenting his government’s five-year policy program to the Armenian parliament.
“This process [of applying for EU membership] also requires a great deal of work and we will soon probably start this process especially to heed the appeals of our EEU partners,” he said.
“My understanding is that we will hold the referendum after we have officially applied to the EU for membership, received an appropriate response and have a roadmap for the process,” added Pashinian.
A senior Russian diplomat warned earlier this month that Pashinian’s government should call the referendum by December or risk losing Armenia’s membership in the EEU. Putin and the other EEU leaders effectively set that deadline in their joint statement.
Pashinian implied earlier that his country cannot be kicked out of the Russian-led bloc without its consent. But that did not prevent Moscow from banning in late May and early June imports of Armenian agricultural products and mineral water. Russian officials have threatened to take other punitive measures such as a sharp rise in the price of Russian natural gas supplied to Armenia and curbs on Russian tourists visiting the South Caucasus country.
Pashinian again criticized the Russian bans on Monday, saying that they run counter to the EEU statutes. He also insisted that they have created a “crisis for the EEU.”
The sanctions are hitting hard Armenian farmers and agribusiness firms heavily reliant on the Russian market. The EU has responded to Moscow’s “economic coercion” by providing 52 million euros ($60 million) in urgent financial aid to Yerevan and promising to open its market to Armenian products.
Pashinian told lawmakers that his government needs time to see the practical impact of that assistance. He presented that as another reason why it will not hold the referendum soon.
Armenian opposition leaders see Pashinian’s European integration drive as reckless, saying that the EU will not admit Armenia in the foreseeable future. No EU member state or institution has voiced explicit support for such a prospect so far.
Russia is Armenia’s number one trading partner. According to Armenian government data, it accounted for 28 percent of Armenian foreign trade in the first five months of this year, compared with the EU’s 16.7 percent share.