Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has presented at the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting the current Armenia-EU partnership programs, steps aimed at further enhancing them, as well as Armenia’s vision for establishing lasting stability and peace in the region, the foreign ministry said in a press release.
In particular, Mirzoyan presented the progress and achievements of democratic reforms in Armenia, and highlighted the continued EU assistance to them and close cooperation with EU member states in targeted domains.
Reference was made also to a number of key matters of the Armenia-EU political and security dialogue, including the EU monitoring mission in Armenia. The Armenian FM expressed to his colleagues of the EU member states the gratitude of the Armenian side for their assistance to the activities of this mission and direct participation in it.
Among the prospects for deepening the Armenia-EU partnership, in the context of people-to-people contacts as well as bringing Armenia closer to the EU, Mirzoyan emphasized the importance of the final decision on the start of the dialogue on visa liberalization, and responded to questions of interest to the EU member states.
Ararat Mirzoyan reflected also on the ambitious agenda of the Armenia-EU in economic and other domains, the landmark programs of the Armenia-EU economic and investment plan, the EU member states' engagement in them, as well as ensuring the inclusiveness of regional initiatives. Among other matters, the potential and importance of Armenia joining the Black Sea electric cable project was emphasized, taking into account the joint statement by the Armenian prime minister and the European Commission in October.
Continuing the topics of regional importance, the FM presented Armenia's efforts aimed at establishing peace in its region, the process of normalization of its relations with Azerbaijan, and the main approaches to the respective draft peace treaty and in line with the well-known principles.
As part of the peace agenda in Armenia’s region, Ararat Mirzoyan touched upon the Crossroads of Peace project developed by the Armenian government, its individual components, and stressed its importance not only in the South Caucasus, but also in the wider region.
