During the government session on October 22, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed issues related to transit transport through Georgia and discussed economic matters with the Georgian Prime Minister. He emphasized that both governments are firmly committed to fighting corruption in economic schemes.

“We must cooperate to better understand the problems. This conversation was very useful. We need to bring our economy and our country up to standards,” Pashinyan said, noting that the lack of standards creates widespread problems.

He described the presence of products that do not meet standards as a constraint on Armenia’s sovereignty.

“Do we have to choose between our independence and tea-colored vodka labeled as cognac?” he asked.

Pashinyan recalled that he had already stressed in 2018 the need to align products with standards.

He added that international organizations have approached him, pointing out that various products are being falsified in Armenia. “What am I supposed to do?” he said.

“In Armenia, cognac cannot be produced—just as ‘Jermuk’ cannot be produced in Dilijan. Champagne cannot be produced in Armenia either,” Pashinyan concluded.