The completion timeline for visa liberalization between Armenia and the European Union largely depends on the pace of legislative changes and technical procedures implemented by the Armenian side. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated this at a joint press conference with Slovenian Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Tone Kajzer in Yerevan.
According to Mirzoyan, the visa liberalization process has progressed relatively quickly to date and has enjoyed the support of the European Union and its member states.
"For such processes, we have progressed at a fairly rapid pace and received support from the European Union and its member states. However, now much more depends on us," the minister noted.
He emphasized that Armenia must fulfill a number of obligations, including legislative changes and technical procedures.
"If we talk about specific deadlines for completing the process, I think it's right to tell Armenian society that it depends on us. The faster we work, the sooner, I hope, we'll achieve a positive result," Mirzoyan stated.
However, the minister did not specify a specific timeframe for introducing visa-free travel with the EU.
Responding to a question about the possible impact of domestic political processes on visa liberalization, including in the context of international observers' comments regarding the criminal prosecution of opposition members, Mirzoyan emphasized the Armenian government's commitment to the rule of law.
According to him, the state will continue to apply legal mechanisms against attempts to bribe voters, including conducting relevant investigations.
