**Armenia Takes Step Towards EU Membership**
The Armenian parliament has passed a bill on the country’s accession process to the European Union. The bill was introduced after collecting 60,000 signatures and received support from 64 lawmakers, with seven voting against it.
This move comes as Armenia tries to strengthen its ties with the EU amid deteriorating relations with Russia. However, the country still needs to submit a membership application before proceeding further.
**Prime Minister’s Caution**
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has emphasized that even after the bill is passed, the accession process can only start if the Armenian people support it in a referendum. He also cautioned against “undue enthusiasm” and suggested that the country focus on more practical steps like visa liberalization.
**Ties with Russia**
The relationship between Armenia and Russia has been strained since last year’s conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, where Azerbaijan launched a surprise attack. This led to a rapid deterioration of ties between Yerevan and Moscow.
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