Hanrapetutyun Party

The Armenian government on Jan. 9 approved a bill on the accession to the European Union at a cabinet meeting, with the premier reminding that the ultimate decision on the membership would be determined through a national referendum.

The draft law, introduced in the parliament as a citizen-led initiative, required the government's formal position before progressing further.

Armenia has declared its intention to withdraw from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a defense alliance formed in 1992 among former Soviet republics with Russia at its core. The CSTO currently comprises Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Armenia.

Representatives from six opposition parties will come together next week in parliament to specifically raise the need for the return to the parliamentary system, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

According to the agency, the meeting will take place on Oct. 5 after parliament will resume its works on Oct 1.