Armenia must understand that it cannot belong to two blocs at once — Danila Gureev

Political analyst Danila Gureev commented to Alpha News on the statement by Mikhail Galuzin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, regarding Armenia’s desire to join the European Union.

“Galuzin’s statement should be taken as the right set of arguments. First and foremost, we are seeing a certain trend and a specific dynamic: the Russian Federation, within the framework of its partnership relations, is interested not only in maintaining a joint dialogue but also in advancing its own interests. In cases where Armenia, as Vladimir Putin put it, has decided to ‘play divorce,’ we are, in principle, fine with that divorce, we accept that position. But a choice must be made: either there or here. Being simultaneously in two organizations and two blocs is impossible. This is because the European Union and NATO, as organizations, would then exert pressure on Armenia in matters of economics, sanctions, and politics,” Gureev believes.

In the analyst’s view, Armenia’s economic opportunities for engagement with the EU are constrained by geography.

“There is a clear and firm understanding: either with us and, in principle, given the geographical realities, because Armenia, let us be frank, does not have the most advantageous geography in this regard or with them. But one must ask: ‘with them’ means with whom, exactly? It means with the European Union, which is literally on the other side of the Black Sea. And that would be one thing if Armenia had access to the Black Sea, but it does not. So how Armenia’s economic community will develop going forward, and how Armenia will engage with the European Union, frankly, this is not entirely clear to the Russian Federation,” the expert concluded.