Such issues cannot be discussed in haste: Deputy FM on Armenia’s possible withdrawal from EEU

Azerbaijan is trying its best to leave Armenia alone with its enemies. It is to set our allies and diferent organizations against us so that in the long run we shall remain alone with our ‘outraged posture.’ But we shall not allow Azerbaijan to do it. This requires consistent work in all directions, Armenian Deputy FM Shavarsh Kocharyan told reporters on Friday. In reply to a question concerning Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan’s participation in a meeting of EEU Intergovernmental Council in Moscow, Mr Kocharyan said, “We do not want to resemble a besieged fortress because this stems from the interests of our enemy [Azerbaijan]. Thus, we can either admit that we are offended and find ourselves in a besieged fortress or make use of the platform to express our stance.” Speaking about the Armenia’s withdrawal from the EEU which has been discussed a lot in recent days, Mr Kocharyan said, “We should first of all understand what the membership gives to Armenia and how we benefit from it. You cannot decide such important issues in haste.” Asked why the CSTO has not responded to the four-day war in Artsakh, Shavarsh Kocharyan said “Armenia has not applied for advice from the CSTO Council and therefore has no expectations from it. I have said many times that Armenia should rely only on itself, at the same time attaching importance to relations with any country, particularly the allies.”