Armenian Parliament Speaker Ruben Rubinyan expressed concern over restrictions on Armenian exports to Russia during a phone call with Russian Federation Council Speaker Valentina Matviyenko on Thursday.

"A number of issues concerning the current stage of bilateral relations between Armenia and Russia were touched upon. Rubinyan noted that unjustified restrictions on Armenian exports to the Russian Federation are a concern, and stressed the importance of resolving this issue within the legal and contractual framework of relations between the two countries and the provisions of the Eurasian Economic Union," the Armenian parliament's press service reported.

It was noted that Rubinyan and Matviyenko discussed the agenda of relations between Armenia and the European Union.

"Rubinyan noted that holding a referendum on Armenia's EU membership, which Russia expects, could become practically possible only after Armenia submits an official application to the European Union and moves to a substantive stage of the process," the parliament stated.

It was also reported that Rubinyan and Matviyenko discussed the agenda of inter-parliamentary relations between Armenia and Russia, emphasized the importance of cooperation, and confirmed their readiness to continue an open dialogue to strengthen mutual understanding on issues of the bilateral agenda and further develop inter-parliamentary cooperation.