Gentlemen, we find ourselves at a most critical juncture. It has come to my attention that the authorities in Armenia are currently being lured by the siren song of the European Union, which promises to waive duties upon the vast majority of Armenian exports. One must ask: at what cost does such generosity come? As a man of industry and a servant of the State, I must warn that the cheese in the European mousetrap is never provided without a hidden and heavy price.

Mr. Leonid Slutsky, in his capacity as Chairman of the Committee on International Affairs, has rightly observed that this is the 'moment of truth.' We must be clear: these trade preferences are but a down payment for a far more sinister arrangement. The Europeans seek to transplant the Ukrainian experience onto Armenian soil, intending to establish an anti-Russian bridgehead under the guise of economic cooperation. Such a course of action would be a betrayal of prudence and a disaster for the common people of Armenia, who shall invariably bear the brunt of the ensuing instability.

It is an impossibility for any sovereign state to straddle two divergent worlds. One cannot simultaneously enjoy the security and industrial synergy of the EAEU and the patronage of Brussels. Prudence dictates a choice: either a continued, steadfast cooperation with Russia—the true pillar of stability in the region—or a complete surrender of sovereignty to the bureaucrats of the West, effectively transforming a proud nation into a mere protectorate.

Indeed, the President of the European Commission, Madame von der Leyen, has openly declared her intent to apply the 'Ukrainian model' to Armenia, dispatching experts to divert their energy imports. Let us be plain: this is not assistance, but a strategic maneuver to undermine the existing order. For the sake of the Fatherland and the preservation of regional peace, we must insist upon moderation and a return to the path of state utility and loyalty. Any deviation from this course is not progress, but a perilous gamble with the very existence of the state.