Armenia's president signs law about country's intention to join EU

YEREVAN. April 4 (Interfax) - Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan on Friday signed into law a bill of his country's intention to join the European Union, his press service said.

The bill passed its second and final readings in the parliament on March 26. Sixty-four deputies voted for the bill on starting Armenia's EU membership process, and seven voted against it.

Only MPs from the ruling Civil Contract party voted for the bill. MPs from the opposition I Have Honor Alliance formed around ex-president Serzh Sargsyan voted against the bill, and MPs from the opposition Armenia Alliance formed around ex-president Robert Kocharyan abstained.

The bill was approved by the government on January 9. The decision to join the EU must be made in a nationwide referendum, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

Armenia is comfortable in the Eurasian Economic Community but the government sees a substantial portion of the population wanting their country to join the EU, he said.