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26 Mar, 08:08

Armenian parliament passes EU accession bill in second reading

The country's largest opposition "Armenia" (Hayastan) faction did not participate in the voting

YEREVAN, March 26. /TASS/. Members of the Armenian parliament have passed a bill initiating the process of the republic’s accession to the European Union during its second and final reading at a session broadcast by local TV channels.

"A total of 64 MPs voted in favor of the bill, while seven voted against it. The decision has been made," Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan announced.

The country's largest opposition "Armenia" (Hayastan) faction did not participate in the voting.

On January 9, the Armenian government approved a draft resolution to begin EU integration. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan previously stated that the discussion of this issue does not imply that Armenia will immediately join the European Union, as a referendum on the matter must first be organized. In turn, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said that the draft legislation on this matter was a public initiative which amassed the necessary number of signatures.

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Overchuk said that Russia sees the discussion of this bill as the beginning of Armenia’s potential exit from the EAEU. He said that EU membership would be incompatible with the country’s participation in the Eurasian Economic Union.