Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reacted strongly to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s recent remarks suggesting that Armenia is “not needed by anyone.” Pashinyan declared that Armenia will no longer rely solely on a single ally.
During a rally in Abovyan, Pashinyan stated, “We will not depend on one road, one ally, or one pipeline.” His comments signal a shift towards diversifying Armenia’s partnerships and energy routes.
The Prime Minister detailed Armenia’s ongoing development of new transportation and energy pathways. He noted, “We have a railway from West to East, the recently inaugurated Akhalkalaki-Kars railway, and a railway that traverses Azerbaijani territory.”
Pashinyan also announced the forthcoming launch of the TRIPP project and a new gas pipeline that will run through Armenia. He explained, “Soon, TRIPP will be operational, and a gas pipeline will pass through our territory. This transit will provide us with our own gas, and we will be compensated with gas for the transit.”
On the topic of Armenia’s economic affiliations, Pashinyan confirmed that the country intends to remain a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) while simultaneously pursuing reforms aligned with European standards. He emphasized, “When the time comes to make a choice, the people of Armenia will make that choice. My significant achievement is that the people now have an alternative, so no one can say, ‘Who needs Armenia, where will it go?'”
Pashinyan described Armenia as evolving into a “crossroads of the world,” gaining importance for both Western and Eastern interests. He stated, “All these parties must make the best offer to the people of Armenia, who will then decide. We are no longer at a deadlock; we are a crossroads, and the people of Armenia have a choice.”
Addressing Lukashenko directly, Pashinyan asserted that the days of economic pressure on Armenia are over. He remarked, “Armenia is no longer a country of thousands or tens of thousands; it is a country of billions and trillions. It is not the country that you and your partners have plundered.”
He also recalled Lukashenko’s involvement in the preparation for the 44-day war against Armenia, accusing him of attempting to influence Yerevan through the EAEU. Pashinyan stated, “Let me be clear. Armenia is not planning to leave the EAEU; I am the only official who serves on two governing bodies of the Union simultaneously. I intend to use these levers to ensure that Lukashenko cannot use the EAEU against Armenia. All these loud statements are empty. Those who make such statements do not understand that they are digging the grave of the EAEU.”
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has firmly rejected Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko's dismissal of Armenia's significance, asserting a commitment to diversifying alliances and energy routes. Pashinyan emphasized Armenia's evolving role as a strategic crossroads and vowed to leverage its position within the Eurasian Economic Union while pursuing European reforms.