Armenian parliament passes EU accession bill in first reading

YEREVAN. Feb 12 (Interfax) - The Armenian parliament passed the bill on Armenia's accession to the European Union in the first reading on Wednesday.

Sixty-three parliament members voted for, and seven were against, an Interfax correspondent reported.

Only the ruling faction Civil Contract voted for the bill. The opposition faction Armenia took no part in voting, and another opposition faction, I Have Honor, voted against.

The Armenian government approved a bill on Armenia's entry into the EU on January 9. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said then that the decision must be made at a nationwide referendum.

He said Armenia feels comfortable in the Eurasian Economic Union but a significant share of its citizens want the country to join the EU.