On the evening of August 8, 2019, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in Cholpon-Ata town, Issyk-Kul region of the Kyrgyz Republic, to attend a regular meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EAIC).

This year Armenia is presiding over the institutions of the Eurasian Economic Union. On August 9, as the leader of the country chairing the EAEU, the Prime Minister of Armenia will participate in the proceedings of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council. Nikol Pashinyan will address the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council’s regular meeting with opening remarks.

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan was met by Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Zamirbek Askarov at the Issyk-Kul International Airport.

The Armenian Prime Minister and President of the Eurasian Economic Commission Tigran Sargsyan will make a joint statement for mass media representatives. Documents will be signed regarding cooperation within the EAEU and a stamp cancellation ceremony will be held on the margins of the meeting.

During his visit, Prime Minister Pashinyan will hold meetings with President Sooronbay Jeenbekov of the Kyrgyz Republic and RF Premier Dmitry Medvedev.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is away to the Kyrgyz Republic on a working visit to attend the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council’s meeting. Early on August 9, the Prime Minister met with President Sooronbay Jeenbekov of the Kyrgyz Republic.

Welcoming Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to Issyk-Kul, the President of Kyrgyzstan noted:

“Dear Nikol Vovayevich,

Welcome to Issyk-Kul. We are very happy to welcome you here. You are a very honorable guest. I would like to stress that not only me, but all Kyrgyz people know you and your political activities. Your participation in today’s meeting will help develop cooperation in the Eurasian space. I am happy for your visit. Thank you.”

Thanking the President of Kyrgyzstan for the warm welcome, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated, in part:

“Dear Sooronbay Jeenbekov,

I am glad to meet with you, and it is my pleasure to be here. This is my first visit to Kyrgyzstan. I have never been here before: I had not seen Issyk-Kul to date. Of course, we have many issues to discuss, concerning both our Eurasian relations and in our bilateral relations. I am aware of this year’s statistics, which shows some growth in our trade turnover. We need to work together so that the bilateral trade could develop to the best interest of our countries. I think that the opportunities offered by the EAEU should be used in full.

Both Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are small countries in the Union, and we have many common interests. This does not mean at all that we have any problems with other partners, but the point is that we can better understand each other’s problems, and we must develop constructive cooperation between our two countries. Thank you.”

Pleased with the current level of political dialogue, the parties reaffirmed their willingness to develop interaction between Armenia and Kyrgyzstan in both bilateral and multilateral formats.

The Armenian Prime Minister and the President of Kyrgyzstan addressed issues related to political dialogue, bilateral trade and economic cooperation. They reflected on the agenda of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, due to be held this October in Yerevan.

Taking the opportunity, the interlocutors exchanged views on other issues of mutual concern. In this context, Sooronbay Jeenbekov spoke about the ongoing political developments in Kyrgyzstan.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who is in Kyrgyzstan on a working visit, today attended the regular meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EAIC), which is being held at Ruha Orda Cultural Center after Aitmatov in Cholpon-Ata town of Kyrgyzstan.

Prior to the meeting, the heads of government of EAEU-member states were received by President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Zenebekov.

Kyrgyzstan Prime Minister Muhammadkali Abilgaziyev met the heads of government of EAEU-member countries at Ruha Orda Cultural Center after Aytmatov.

After attending a protocol photo session, the EAEU Prime Ministers met in narrow and expanded formats. As the head of EAEU-chairing country, the Prime Minister of Armenia addressed the meeting with opening remarks:

“Dear participants,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I wish to thank Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic Mohammedkal Abilgaziyev for the warm welcome and hospitality, as well as for proper organization of today’s event.

At the narrow-format meeting, we exchanged views and made decisions over conceptual issues related to today’s agenda. Nevertheless, I would like to draw your attention to some aspects that are important for our countries.

As far as the alcohol market regulations are concerned, I consider it necessary to note that as a whole, the EAEU-member countries stand for the removal of barriers in this field. The alcohol market is a priority for Armenia as it offers wide export opportunities in the markets of the Eurasian Economic Union.

We consider it important to achieve a final decision on the distribution of import customs duties between the Member States’ budgets. This issue has been discussed in our organization for a long time and needs to be resolved as soon as possible.

We attach particular importance to the establishment of a common EAEU financial market, which will be facilitated and promoted by the entry into force in 2020 of the Agreement on Harmonization of EAEU-Member States’ Legislations in the Sphere of Financial Market.

Signing agreements to allow brokers and dealers in one Member State to trade on the stock exchanges of other Member States is also essential in this regard. In this matter, we consider it important to provide opportunities for the placement and circulation of securities at tenders held in the Member States and for exchange of information on credit records.

All member countries of our Union confirm their interest in agreeing on the concept of cross-border information interaction. The implementation of this document will have a positive impact on the implementation of business processes between public and private institutions of the Union countries.

We consider the signing of the Agreement On Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Waste Materials through the Customs Territory of the Eurasian Economic Union to be absolutely timely. The implementation of the provisions of this Agreement is consonant with the priorities of Armenia in the field of healthcare and environmental protection.

We attach great importance to ensuring that the subjects of our countries working in the agricultural sector have generalized information on the demand and supply of agricultural products in the member states of the Eurasian Economic Union. This sector of the Armenian economy has wide opportunities for expanding exports and is a priority for our government.

Dear friends,

Taking this opportunity, I wish to inform you that in early July this year I traveled to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of Singapore on official visits. As a country chairing the EAEU, we paid special attention to cooperation between the EAEU and the aforementioned countries. We discussed the possibility of expanding trade and economic cooperation, and in particular, the signing of a free trade arrangement between the EAEU and Singapore.

Agreement was reached in principle to the effect that should the negotiation process be completed in a timely manner and the draft agreed, the Prime Minister of Singapore might attend the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meeting in Yerevan, at which a relevant agreement would be signed. On this issue, I obtained the consent of the leaders of all the countries concerned.

Taking this opportunity, I want to turn to the EAEU-Member States and to the Board of Management with a request to expedite as quickly as possible all necessary procedures related to the approval of the draft agreement for its successful signing on October 1 in Yerevan. I am hereby asking you to take this issue under your personal control.

In line with the agreements reached the heads of EAEU-Member States, I have invited the President of Iran to participate in the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council’s Yerevan meeting.

Also, I would like to inform you that on September 30 - October 1, an international forum will be held in Yerevan on the margins of the upcoming meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council, referred to as “Transit Potential in the Eurasian Continent.”

In this regard, I am asking you to ensure the widest possible participation of representatives of public and private institutions of your countries at this important event. The heads of all EAEU-Member States and partner countries are invited to attend the forum.

The forum is expected to discuss topical issues of developing transport and logistics networks throughout the continent, prospects for developing new and completing the ongoing large-scale infrastructure projects, as well as issues related to the development of digital corridors in the Eurasian region. Thank you.”

The Heads of Government of EAEU Member States discussed issues on the distribution of import customs duties between the budgets of the EAEU Member States, the development of the EAEU common financial market, the creation of a common alcohol market within the EAEU, the establishment of cross-border companies, cross-border information interaction, cooperation in the field of industrial cooperation and technology transfer, the signing of a draft agreement on cross-border movement of hazardous waste materials through the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union, as well as on the development of the agricultural sector in the EAEC.
Following the meeting, a number of documents were signed, including the decree on import customs duties distribution standards between the budgets of Member States, the timetable for forming a common financial market in the EAEU, as well as decisions and orders aimed at deepening cooperation between the EAEU-member countries in the aforementioned areas.

The concept of common financial market is expected for signing on October 1 at the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Yerevan. It was decided to hold the next meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council on October 25, 2019 in Moscow.

In conclusion, the EAEU heads of government attended the first-day-of-issue dedication ceremony for stamps to celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union and the 25th anniversary of the Eurasian integration idea.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan who is in Kyrgyzstan on a working visit today met with RF Premier Dmitry Medvedev.

The Prime Ministers of Armenia and Russia discussed a wide range of issues related to the Armenian-Russian strategic relations and referred to the current agenda of bilateral cooperation. In particular, Nikol Pashinyan and Dmitry Medvedev talked about the furtherance of trade and economic relations, increased turnover and implementation of joint projects. Nikol Pashinyan and Dmitry Medvedev hailed the dynamic growth in bilateral relations, noting that the active efforts should be continued to strengthen and develop the Armenian-Russian allied relations.

Praising Armenia’s successful chairmanship in the EAEU, Dmitry Medvedev noted that there has been some progress in bilateral relations as evidenced by the frequently reciprocated top-level official meetings and the contacts held in intergovernmental and inter-parliamentary formats.

Welcoming the pace of strategic cooperation between Armenia and Russia, the Prime Minister of Armenia hailed the progress stated in the field of tourism: the number of Russian tourists visiting Armenia rose by 19% in the first 6 months of 2019 as compared to the same period last year, while the total number of tourists visiting Armenia increased by 12.8% in the first half of this year.

Prime Minister Pashinyan noted with satisfaction that the operational mechanism for dealing with problems emerging in Upper Lars proved quite effective. Coming to the furtherance of bilateral relations, the Premier highlighted the need for tapping the full potential inherent the Eurasian Economic union.

During the meeting, the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Russia referred to cooperation in the fields of gas supplies, nuclear power, air transportations, as well as to other issues of mutual interest. The parties took the opportunity to exchange views on a number of high-profile topics featuring in Armenian and Russian media outlets.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s working visit to the Kyrgyz Republic continues. Following the meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of the Eurasian Economic Commission Tigran Sargsyan made a joint statement to the press:

Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan:
“Dear media representatives,
Dear Tigran Surenovich,

The regular meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council is over. As the leader of the country chairing the Union, I would like to thank all the participants for their constructive and productive work. In fact, we discussed 15 questions. We reached an agreement on a large number of them, thus preparing the ground for the next meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

I would like to highlight one of the issues on the agenda: The question of our work on the coordination of the draft agreement on the regulation of the alcohol market in the EAEU. The document aims to remove barriers to mutual trade in alcoholic products and to create conditions to avoid obstacles in the Union market. I hope that we can reach a final agreement on this document in the near future.

Another issue is the creation of conditions conducive to the expansion of mutual trade within the Union. This decision aims to publish joint projections concerning the development of agro-industrial complex, the balance between supply and demand for agricultural products, food products, flax, and raw materials for leather, cotton, fiber and wool for 2019-2020. It is obvious that this information will raise our farmers’ awareness of EAEU markets and help them plan their strategies more effectively.

I would also like to highlight the fact that it is planned to develop and approve a general timetable for the formation of the Common Financial Market by 2025. I believe that the creation of a common financial market is of great importance, which is fundamental to the development of our integration union and the strengthening of economic bonds between EAEU-member States.

I would ask the President of the Eurasian Economic Commission to elaborate on the decisions of the Council, but before that, I would like to inform you that the next meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council will be held in Moscow on 25 October. I would also like to remind you that the next meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council is due this October 1 in Yerevan.

As the country chairing the Union, Armenia looks forward to the opportunity to host the leaders of the EAEU-member States. At the same time, an international conference entitled Transit Potential in the Eurasian Continent will be held within the framework of the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

The conference will focus on the current challenges of developing the continental transport and logistics network, the prospects for the development of new large-scale infrastructure projects by the regional states and the implementation of existing projects, as well as issues related to development of Eurasia’s digital corridors. We expect active participation of the EAEU-member States in this event.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the authorities of Kyrgyzstan for the warm welcome and for excellent organization of the meeting. Thank you.”

Eurasian Economic Commission President Tigran Sarkissian:
“Thank you, Mr. Pashinyan,
Dear media representatives,

In fact, Nikol Pashinyan has addressed all the conceptual issues on our agenda and the decisions made today. I would just like to address a question related to the formation of a new legal framework for transnational corporations.

The Commission has been entrusted with the implementation of a relevant research, including on the basis of international experience in order to determine the scope of the proposed legislative framework and to determine the assets that might benefit companies operating in the territory of the Eurasian Economic Union.

The aim is to provide more attractive conditions for our companies. At the same time, as regards the promotion of exports, given the international experience, we believe that such privileges can actually stimulate the formation of large Eurasian companies.

The other agenda items, including our conceptual decisions, have already been addressed by Nikol Pashinyan. Thank you.”

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s working visit to Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, continues.

Later today, the Premier attended a cultural program held on the sidelines of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting. Prime Minister Pashinyan joined the heads of government of EAEU-member States and the President of the Eurasian Economic Commission to attend the opening of Tengri 2019 annual international music festival.

The working visit of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia to the Kyrgyz Republic is over.