During a discussion at the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) in Dublin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan addressed Armenia’s foreign policy, the process of normalizing relations with Türkiye and Azerbaijan, prospects for establishing peace in the region, as well as his vision of Armenia’s accession to the European Union.
Speaking about the normalization process with Türkiye, the Prime Minister noted that the two countries are close to establishing diplomatic relations and fully opening their borders. He recalled his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a few days earlier, describing it as positive.
“Two days ago, I had a very positive meeting with President Erdoğan, and we mutually acknowledged that we have made progress and are very close to the final step, namely, establishing diplomatic relations and fully opening the borders,” Pashinyan said.
Addressing relations with Azerbaijan, the Prime Minister stressed that Armenia and Azerbaijan now have a historic opportunity to establish lasting and final peace. In his view, failing to seize this opportunity would be unforgivable.
“Now we have a very realistic and historic chance to establish lasting, final, permanent, enduring and reliable peace, and it would be unforgivable not to seize this opportunity. And this is my personal mission and the mission of our government: to make use of this historic opportunity,” he said.
During the discussion, Armenia’s foreign policy orientation was also addressed. Responding to the moderator’s question about whether Armenia was changing its foreign policy vector, Pashinyan said that Yerevan was not seeking to distance itself from one partner in order to move closer to another.
“Armenia is where it has been and where it is. Armenia will remain there, in its place... We do not want to distance ourselves from any partners and move closer to other partners. We are simply pursuing and implementing our balanced and balancing foreign policy,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
In this context, he also referred to the “Crossroads of Peace” project, noting that its implementation could turn not only Armenia but the entire South Caucasus into a crossroads of peace and transport connectivity.
At the end of the discussion, Pashinyan was asked how he envisioned Armenia 20 years from now. The Prime Minister replied that he saw Armenia as a member of the European Union at that time.
“I see Armenia as a member of the European Union,” Nikol Pashinyan stated.
