Armenia's government on Thursday gave approval to a bill that calls for the country, once part of the Soviet Union, to launch a bid to join the European Union. Armenia has in recent years deepened ties with the West at the expense of its traditionally close relations with Moscow,

Armenia’s government backed kicking off the process for accession into the European Union, a move that could anger its traditional ally, Russia.

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stressed that even if the bill is passed, the accession process can start only if the Armenian people support it in a referendum

On Thursday, January 9, the Armenian government approved the draft law titled "On the Start of the Process of Armenia's Accession to the European Union," the news agency NEWS.am reports. "The draft law on the start of Armenia's EU membership process was submitted for discussion in the National Assembly as a civic initiative,