Armenia has no option but to cooperate with Russia – Andrey Perla

Political commentator Andrey Perla spoke to Alpha News about the meeting between Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk in Yerevan.

“When we talk about Russia-Armenia relations, it is true that there are many people in Russia who feel like saying, ‘Well, if they don’t want to cooperate with us, let them go their own way.’ But if we look at the situation from an expert’s perspective, we find that Armenia has no alternative to cooperating with Russia. 80% of Armenia’s trade turnover is with Russia, 80% of what Armenia sells and buys involves Russia. That accounts for more than half of Armenia’s GDP,” the expert said.

According to Perla, the idea of Armenia severing trade ties with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) is unrealistic.

“It is unimaginable for Armenia to abandon this trade—it cannot be replaced. Armenia cannot substitute it with trade with Europe, Iran, or even, hypothetically and far from guaranteed, future trade with Turkey.

So the idea of Armenia cutting trade ties with the EAEU is unrealistic—it simply won’t happen. That is also where the potential lies to restore ties between Russia and Armenia, to rebuild friendly and close relations once the madness subsides. Perhaps Pashinyan himself will come to his senses, or perhaps a more rational government will take his place,” he said.