Answering a question from a reporter from Russia’s Rossiya television on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia intends to continue its balanced foreign policy.

“We [i.e. Armenia] plan to continue our balanced foreign policy, as we have said,” Pashinyan said. When asked by the reporter how Armenia’s rapprochement with the European Union (EU) will continue, he responded with the Russian media’s favorite wording about attempts to “sit on two chairs.”

“Why two chairs? We are sitting on the same Armenian chair, so we don’t need two,” the Armenian premier said. The reporter then asked Pashinyan about the prospects for Armenia’s exports to the European market.

He recalled that the European side had announced the possibility of 99 percent of Armenian agricultural products, including vegetables and fruits, entering the EU market, and asked whether the Armenian prime minister was not afraid that the Europeans might not fulfill their promises. “And why? And why should they deceive?” the Armenian premier replied. “Well, we [i.e. Armenia] try to be honest, open, and hope for reciprocity with all our partners.”