Nikol Pashinyan Meets with EU Foreign Ministers

The Acting Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, received Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis, Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs Alexander Schallenberg, as well as Managing Director of the EU Affairs, Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation, and OSCE Michael Zibert, and the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia, Toivo Klaar. The visit has been authorized by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

Pashinyan welcomed this representative visit to our country, recalling that it was planned while Armenia was facing more crises than solutions. “I am glad that the visit took place at a time when elections were held in Armenia, resulting in the confirmation of our people’s commitment to democratic values, which has been highly praised by international organizations,” noted the Acting Prime Minister.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, the political crisis in Armenia has now been overcome, allowing the government to fully return to the implementation of its crucial working agenda, including the effective enforcement of provisions from the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the European Union.

Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu noted that such a delegation visit to the region is happening for the first time in history, with one of its primary objectives being the promotion of Armenia-EU relations. Aurescu congratulated Pashinyan for conducting the elections at a high level, for the “Civil Contract” party’s victory, and for the entry into force of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement on March 1 of this year. He emphasized the importance of maximizing the benefits of the aforementioned agreement for Armenia and highlighted the EU’s readiness to support the Armenian government’s institutional reforms with renewed vigor.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis underscored the importance of strengthening security and stability in the South Caucasus, adding that this also holds key significance for their own security context. He noted the necessity of fostering and strengthening an atmosphere of trust between the parties involved in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, stating that the EU is ready to provide its support in this matter.

Landsbergis also emphasized the importance of resolving humanitarian issues, including the return of prisoners of war held in Azerbaijan. Austrian Federal Minister Alexander Schallenberg also addressed the outcomes of the elections held in Armenia, stating that beyond the victory of the “Civil Contract” party, democracy has triumphed. He pointed out that to the joy of the Armenian people, predictions regarding problems during the elections turned out to be incorrect, which further demonstrates Armenia's commitment to democratic values.

Expressing gratitude for the opinions shared, Nikol Pashinyan emphasized that the crisis created after the war and the elections reflected the vitality of democracy in our country, thus declaring that democracy in Armenia is now an irreversible process.

During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed issues related to the agenda of Armenia-EU relations, as well as the situation that has developed in the region and its resolution. Pashinyan highly appreciated the role of the EU, particularly that of the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, in securing the return of 15 Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan and stated that Armenia is ready to respond to a humanitarian step with an appropriate response.

The Acting Prime Minister emphasized the necessity of fully implementing the trilateral agreement signed on November 9, 2020, by Azerbaijan, the return of all detained prisoners of war, as well as the need for a peaceful resolution of the situation along the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. Pashinyan stressed that the issue must be resolved exclusively through the withdrawal of Azerbaijani armed forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia and reminded that he had previously made a relevant proposal regarding this issue. Addressing the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Nikol Pashinyan stated that the comprehensive resolution process must take place within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.