Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan requested flexibility from Russian partners regarding the sale of the South Caucasus Railway to a third party. Pashinyan said the railway belongs to Armenia but is operated by Russian Railways.
Speaking in parliament, Pashinyan announced that Armenia plans to soon begin the official process of applying for European Union membership. The prime minister said this step was necessary for the country to obtain information about possible EU membership and establish a timetable for the required reforms.
Pashinyan said the application process would require comprehensive work and noted that the persistent demands of Armenia’s partners in the Eurasian Economic Union were also being taken into account.
Yerevan has no plan to return to the security organization
The Armenian prime minister said he would be pleased if the Collective Security Treaty Organization expelled his country from its membership. Pashinyan said such a decision would spare Armenia from having to choose whether to leave the organization and added that the country’s interest in the organization had been exhausted.
Pashinyan also announced that Armenia does not plan to return to the Collective Security Treaty Organization within the next five years.
Request concerning railway operations
Arguing that the Russian administration of Armenia’s railways risks causing the country to miss the opportunity to integrate into the international railway network, Pashinyan called for openness to a third-party option regarding the South Caucasus Railway.
Pashinyan also said that the TRIPP project does not envisage the presence of any foreign military or armed entity.