Yerevan ‘Would Not Object’ to Russian Military Base Withdrawal, Pashinyan Says
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on Thursday said that Yerevan would not object if Russia decided to withdraw its military base from Gyumri.
Pashinyan was responding to a reporter’s question regarding comments made two days ago by President Vladimir Putin of Russia, who said Moscow could withdraw the base from the Armenian city of Gyumri “even tomorrow” if Yerevan decided that it was no longer needed.
Pashinyan told a news briefing in Yerevan on Thursday that the issue of the Russian 102nd military base stationed in Armenia was not discussed with Putin during their meeting in Bishkek on Tuesday.
“We have never raised the issue of the 102nd military base stationed in Armenia during this period. It doesn’t mean, however, that we consider the presence of the 102nd military base in Armenian territory to be a vital necessity,” Pashinyan said.
“If Russia decides to withdraw its military base from the Republic of Armenia, we will not object,” he added. “But if they express a desire to stay, we are also ready to discuss that.”
Putin made the comments to reporters when he was briefing them on his talks with Pashinyan. The statement on the Gyumri base was made in the larger context of Russia’s pressure on Yerevan to hold a referendum on Armenia’s membership in the European Union.
Putin and other high-ranking Russian officials have said that if Armenia were to join the EU, or even begin that process, it would run counter to the tenets governing the Eurasian Economic Union, of which Armenia is a member.
Pashinyan has rejected Moscow’s calls for a referendum on possible EU membership, saying Armenia sees no urgent need for such a vote at this stage.
Pashinyan also announced on Wednesday that he planned to travel to Moscow soon, perhaps for follow up discussions after the Bishkek meeting with Putin.
