Armenia applied to join SCO

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced his application to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and his intention to join the EU.

As "Caucasian Knot" wrote, in December 2024, Pashinyan ruled out Armenia's return to the CSTO. The point of no return in relations between the Collective Security Treaty Organization and Armenia has been passed, the country does not consider itself a member of the bloc and rules out the possibility of returning there, the politician said.

Armenia has submitted an application to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said at a press conference, "Novosti Armenia" reports. He explained that this is in line with the logic of the republic's balanced policy.

"By the way, we have observer status in this organization. In other words, it is not that we appeared from scratch, had no voting rights there and suddenly decided to become a member of the organization,” Pashinyan said. According to the Prime Minister, the decision of the Armenian authorities is also connected with “significant and structural changes that are taking place in the organization.”

“The issue of abolishing the status of an observer or associate member is being discussed,” he specified.

It should be noted that on July 3, the country's Foreign Ministry announced Yerevan's desire to become a permanent member of the SCO. Armenia decided to join the organization, "sharing the fundamental principles of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, namely territorial integrity, non-use of force and inviolability of borders," the official statement on the Foreign Ministry's Telegram channel said.

Armenia wants to join the European Union

Armenia wants to become a member of the European Union, Nikol Pashinyan said. "Our European colleagues are asking whether the law adopted in Armenia on the start of the EU accession process means that Armenia wants to become a member of the EU. My answer is yes, Armenia wants to become a member of the EU," he said.

"He stated that Armenia has an ambitious strategy and reform program. "One way or another, this strategy will be implemented. We will continue reforms until Armenia objectively meets EU standards, and at this stage there will be two options: either we are accepted into the EU or not. But even if they do not accept us, Armenia will already at this stage become a country that meets EU standards," News.am quotes Pashinyan as saying.

"I think that in 20 years Armenia will become a member of the EU," the Prime Minister summed up.