Mirzoyan on deepening Armenia-EU relations

There is a long way to go in the process of deepening Armenia-European Union relations, but a series of specific actions and programs are currently on the discussion table. This statement was made by Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan during a joint press conference with his Greek counterpart.

According to Mirzoyan, some of the programs derive from the ongoing SEPA agreement between Armenia and the EU, while others fall outside the agreement. “We had the opportunity to discuss these issues both within the framework of the assessment mission sent by the European Union and during meetings with them a month ago, as well as during my visit to Brussels, where I had the honor of participating in the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council and engaging with my colleagues, including through the efforts and initiative of Greece,” Mirzoyan noted.

He emphasized that this work and efforts are ongoing. Armenia continues democratic reforms in all areas, firmly believing that these reforms are bringing Armenia closer to the European Union.

“Currently, for Armenia, the EU's civil observation mission holds vital and exceedingly important significance in the security dimension,” the Minister stated. According to him, this is another factor that ensures security and peace in the border region between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and a sphere of cooperation that is also subject to further development.

Greek Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis, for his part, expressed Greece's readiness to support the deepening of relations between Armenia and the European Union. Referring to Greece's efforts, which also facilitated Mirzoyan's attendance at the informal meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, the Greek minister noted that such meeting initiatives will continue. “We will continue to organize similar meetings with member states that share our values, such as France and Cyprus. I believe it is essential to continually emphasize the European perspective on Armenia. We do this not only for the future of Armenia—to contribute to the well-being of the Armenian people—but also because it is crucial for Europe. We believe that Armenia is part of Europe; there are historical ties,” he said. He added that Greece is confident that the prosperity of Armenia and the Armenian people can exist alongside Europe.