Arpine Sargsyan on the Visa Liberalization Program

On May 9, Minister of Internal Affairs Arpine Sargsyan participated in an event dedicated to Europe Day, during which she delivered a speech.

“First of all, allow me to congratulate you on this important and memorable day, Europe Day, which symbolizes peace, unity, and cooperation. The progress recorded in Armenia-European Union relations in recent years reflects the Armenian government's strong commitment to strengthening the bilateral agenda with the European Union.

As Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan mentioned in his speech at the European Parliament in October 2023, we are determined to deepen our multifaceted cooperation with the European Union, and the subsequent steps have demonstrated our commitment to that promise. The European Union is an important partner on Armenia's path to democracy.

The signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement opened a new chapter in Armenia-European Union relations. In the implementation of the agreement, we emphasize the importance of the EU-Armenia civil society platform and reaffirm the government's commitment to effectively implementing the actions defined in the roadmap, highlighting the role of civil society in this process.

I consider the establishment of a new democratic institution in Armenia, represented by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a significant achievement, which has become a reality due to the efforts and dedication of our international partners, including the European Union, as well as civil society partners, all relevant state bodies, and every member of the public.

The progress we have made is evidenced by the fact that under the leadership of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and myself, the process of liberalizing entry visas is underway with significant momentum, marking an important milestone for Armenia in the context of aspirations towards the European Union while also evaluating the reforms implemented in the field of migration management in Armenia.

The visa liberalization with the European Union will have a significant impact on our country's economy by creating new opportunities for economic growth, investments, and the development of various sectors. Visa liberalization will be crucial for facilitating communication between people and strengthening the business, social, and cultural ties between the citizens of Armenia and the European Union.

We are ready to implement and invest maximum efforts in the development of the visa liberalization action program, which we view as a strategic roadmap for updating migration, internal security, and border management sectors.

We highly appreciate the EU and the member states' clear determination to continue deepening cooperation with Armenia and reaffirm the Armenian government's commitment to come closer to the European Union.

This memorable day symbolizes the imperative of finding unity that emerged decades ago and the strength of the robust determination demonstrated by EU member states to jointly commit to building a secure future. Happy Europe Day!”