Telephone conversation with Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

Armenia Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan phoned Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko on 31 March.

Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nikol Pashinyan discussed the operation of the economy in the current complicated conditions. The existence of serious problems and difficulties was mentioned.

The sides exchanged opinions about prices for the hydrocarbon resources Belarus and Armenia import from Russia. Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nikol Pashinyan agreed that natural gas is overpriced and it is obvious the prices are out of sync with the world and out of touch with the existing situation as a whole.

Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nikol Pashinyan discussed the operation of healthcare systems and efforts to counteract seasonal grave viral infections.

Bearing in mind the current state of affairs, the Belarus President and the Armenian prime minister looked into the possibility of arranging a meeting of the heads of state of the Eurasian Economic Union member states in order to discuss the economic challenges. Aleksandr Lukashenko put forward the initiative as the leader of the country presiding over the Eurasian Economic Union. The Belarusian leader stressed that there are urgent matters that need to be discussed in detail at the top level.

In continuation of the conversation Aleksandr Lukashenko instructed Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission Mikhail Myasnikovich to get in touch with each side in order to discuss the matter with them and convey the views Aleksandr Lukashenko and Nikol Pashinyan had presented. If the EAEU heads of state agree to it, Belarus suggests arranging a meeting of only limited-size delegations and can guarantee full safety to every member of the incoming delegations. A video conference the Eurasian Economic Union leaders can participate in is an alternative way for having this discussion, the Belarusian side believes.