Pashinyan: Yerevan will not “blackmail” the EU for membership

Armenia will benefit from its European integration course regardless of the outcome of its bid to join the European Union (EU).

This was stated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the 8th meeting of the Armenia–EU Civil Society Platform.

According to him, Yerevan does not intend to use pressure or “blackmail” in its rapprochement with the EU. “Yes, we have adopted a law on launching the process of Armenia’s accession to the EU. Our strategy is that we will not use blackmail tools by saying ‘you must accept us within a month,’” he said.

Pashinyan stressed that even in the event of rejection, the country will still benefit from reforms. “If the European Union decides to accept us, that would be excellent. If that does not happen, we will still gain, because we will become a modern country that meets the highest standards,” the prime minister stated.