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Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced he will not be attending the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) summit scheduled for May 28-29 in Astana. This decision marks a significant shift in Armenia's participation in the regional bloc.

Instead of attending personally, Pashinyan stated that Armenia will be represented by Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan. The Prime Minister has reportedly informed both Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin of his decision.

Armenia's EAEU Stance

Pashinyan emphasized that any potential withdrawal from the EAEU would be a planned and deliberate process, not an abrupt move. He indicated that such a significant decision would not necessitate a referendum, suggesting a measured approach to foreign policy shifts.

"If we leave the EAEU, it will be a planned process, not sudden. If you have noticed, we are not in a hurry to do anything suddenly," Pashinyan commented, highlighting Armenia's strategic considerations.

Balancing Relations

Addressing Armenia's foreign policy, Pashinyan clarified that the country is not currently facing a choice between the EAEU and the European Union. He asserted that Armenia maintains its own strategic logic in interstate relations and participates fully in all EAEU decisions as a member in good standing.

"We view our EAEU partners and our participation in the union with great respect. We pursue a balanced foreign policy, one of the main principles of which is relations based on mutual respect and recognition of interests," the Prime Minister stated.

He further added that a referendum would only be considered if it were deemed necessary for a particular decision, reinforcing the idea of a carefully managed foreign policy.

This information was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.