Moscow: Armenia-EU summit evidence of  drawing Yerevan toward alien  and aggressively Euro-Atlantic standards

ArmInfo. The Armenia-EU serves as evidence that Armenia is increasingly being drawn toward standards that are alien to it—not European ones, but aggressively  Euro-Atlantic ones, as stated by Russian Foreign Ministry  spokesperson Maria Zakharova during a weekly briefing on May 7, in  reference to  events held in Yerevan in partnership with the EU.

"Well, first of all, the impression of this political show with its  pompous speeches, flashing cameras, strolls, and even jogging by  Western 'quest performers' through the streets of Yerevan has already  been formed.  All of the above is just a 'wrapping' that Brussels,  Paris, and others are trying to sell during Armenia's pre- election  period," she noted. She recalled that European officials had again  stated that "Yerevan can rely on them in terms of conducting the  election campaign." In this vein, Zakharova suggested that "European  officials, or rather, European bureaucrats, have relied on Armenia,  but in the worst sense of the word."

"One must be cautious. If this is not yet another example of direct  interference in internal affairs, then what is it? It seems to me  that everything is obvious," the representative of the Russian  foreign policy department added.

According to her, after reading the declaration following the  Armenia-EU summit, it is becoming clear that the country is being  increasingly pulled toward alien standards—not European ones, but  aggressively Euro- Atlantic ones. Zakharova expressed her conviction  that continuing on this course will lead to Yerevan being drawn into  the EU's anti-Russian agenda, with all the ensuing political and  economic consequences for Armenia. "The European Union's formula is  simple, banal. It's strange that no one understands this. They  squeeze every last drop out of Armenia  to exploit it for their own  interests, including Russophobic and anti-Russian ones, while giving  nothing in return except PR stunts," she noted, adding that Armenia  has received nothing in practical terms except these PR stunts and  shows.

She then noted that the EU has promised Armenia 2.5 billion euros in  investments, adding that she's lost count of how many times Brussels  has tried to exploit these expectations. She noted that this isn't  the first time the EU has sold 2.5 billion euros to Armenians, and  that the promise was first made in 2021.  According to her, it is  questionable why, over five years, they could not move from promises  to action and allocate at least a few million.

"The funds never reached Yerevan; only those who engage in physical  exercise on the streets arrived.  Apparently, there is a great desire  to harm the Russian Federation, but they are stingy with the money.  Even if funds are found, they will be in the form of loans; the  average citizen in Armenia will not see them," she said, stating that  Armenian citizens will ultimately be the ones paying this  "Euro-Atlantic tribute" out of their own pockets.