16:46, 21 June 2023

YEREVAN, JUNE 21, ARMENPRESS. Armenia cannot be involved in bypassing the Western sanctions against Russia, Deputy Foreign Minister Mnatsakan Safaryan told POLITICO.

Mnatsakan Safaryan told POLITICO that while the Eurasian Economic Union mandates the free movement of goods, “We cannot fall under sanctions ourselves by getting involved in shadowy activities and circumvention, bypassing sanctions.”

“We are very much concerned that such developments, getting under sanctions as a country or our companies getting under sanctions, will affect our economy and make it unbearable for Armenia economy-wise and security-wise,” he said.

The POLITICO article noted that Armenia has now publicly committed to working with the EU and the U.S. to block trade in ‘risky items’ and prevent its businesses ending up on the wrong side of the rules. A list drawn up last month by Yerevan applies strict control measures to goods that could be ultimately used by the Russian arms industry.

“As one of the only emerging democracies in the region, with a government that has overseen significant progress on civil liberties and press freedom, Yerevan is distancing itself from its traditional ally Russia and pushing for closer ties with the West,” POLITICO’s Gabriel Gavin wrote.

According to Safaryan, unpicking decades of close trade ties with Russia is no easy feat, and pragmatism is more useful than ideology. He insisted there's been no pressure from Moscow to keep sanctioned goods flowing.

“Our policy has been based on our dialog with the EU and the U.S.,” he said, “but we also work with Russia to help navigate these issues as our economies are very much connected.”