Armenia Transfers Presidency in EAEU to Belarus

The final meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) Council for the year took place on December 20 in Saint Petersburg, attended by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Following this meeting, an informal gathering of CIS leaders is also scheduled, where the Prime Minister is expected to participate.

The EAEU Council meeting started slightly later than planned, although no specific reason was provided for the delay. However, considering that prior to the meeting, Russian President Vladimir Putin had a separate meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that lasted over two hours, it can be inferred that this was the cause of the postponement.

During today’s session, former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev served as the honorary chair, and Russian President V. Putin opened the meeting with gratitude towards him, emphasizing that the initiative to create the union belongs to Nazarbayev. He assured him that this initiative has been successful and is functioning effectively, despite certain challenges that are natural for such organizations and that will certainly be resolved in the future.

Subsequently, President Putin handed the floor to Armenian Prime Minister N. Pashinyan, who welcomed the attendees and noted that they were concluding the year on a positive note, as all issues on the agenda found consensus among the participants. Pashinyan expressed his gratitude to his colleagues for their effective cooperation, reminding them that Armenia’s presidency in the union would be transferred to Belarus in the coming year.

Belarusian President A. Lukashenko, delivering a welcome message, first thanked Nikol Pashinyan for his extremely effective presidency, then wished to present the new candidate for the presidency of the EAEU commission, Mikhail Myasnikovich, who will replace Tigran Sarkisyan next year. However, not seeing Sarkisyan in sight, he called for him to come forward so that attendees would not later claim that a “cat was chosen in a sack.”

Lukashenko then succinctly outlined, with his characteristic practicality, that in the narrow format already agreed upon, the commercial bloc of the EAEU will be under the responsibility of Russia, while Armenia will work on technical regulations and the agricultural sector, leaving Belarus with the obligation to preside successfully.

After the conclusion of the narrow format session, the heads of state moved to a larger hall where the expanded meeting began. Present was the new candidate for the presidency of the EAEU commission, Belarusian representative Mikhail Myasnikovich, whom Russian President Vladimir Putin urged to engage with all capitals of member states after assuming his duties. This is to familiarize himself with the unique national issues and communicate them to the union’s leadership for effective solutions and consensus.

Immediately after the meeting of the EAEU Council, an informal meeting of CIS leaders commenced, attended also by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev.