Friday, June 25 2021 21:50

ArmInfo.RA acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan  received Austrian Federal Minister for European and International  Affairs Alexander Schallenberg, Lithuanian Foreign Minister  Gabrielius Landsbergis and Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu,  and EU Managing Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central  Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE Michael Siebert and EU Special  Representative for the South Caucasus and the Crisis in Georgia Toivo  Klaar. The visit was mandated  by EU High Representative for Foreign  Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European  Commission, Josep Borrell.

Nikol Pashinyan welcomed such a representative visit to our country,  recalling that it was scheduled at a time when there were more crises  than solutions in Armenia. "I am glad that the visit took place when  elections were held in Armenia, as a result of which the adherence of  our people to democratic values, the quality of which was highly  appreciated by international organizations, was confirmed," the  acting prime minister said. According to Nikol Pashinyan, the  political crisis in Armenia has been overcome, and the government can  fully return to the implementation of its most important work  program, including the effective implementation of the provisions of  the Comprehensive Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the European  Union (CEPA).

Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu noted that a delegation in  such a composition is visiting the region for the first time. One of  the main goals of the visit is to promote Armenia-EU relations. The  Romanian Foreign Minister congratulated Pashinyan on the high-level  elections, on the victory of the Civil Contract party, as well as on  the entry into force of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership  Agreement (CEPA) on March 1 this year. He stressed the readiness of  the EU to help the Armenian government in promoting institutional  reforms.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis noted the  importance of strengthening security and stability in the South  Caucasus, adding that this is also important for Europe in the  context of ensuring its own security. The Lithuanian Foreign Minister  stressed the need to create and strengthen an environment of trust  between the parties to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, adding that the  EU is ready to help in this regard as well. In this regard,  Landsbergis stressed the importance of resolving humanitarian issues,  including the return of prisoners of war held by Azerbaijan.

Austrian Federal Minister for European and International Affairs  Alexander Schallenberg, referring to the results of the elections in  Armenia, noted that in addition to the victory of the Civil Contract  party, democracy won in the country. In his words, to the delight of  the Armenian people, those who forecasted the problems in the  elections in Armenia turned out to be wrong, which testifies to  Armenia's adherence to democratic values.

Expressing gratitude for the opinions expressed, Nikol Pashinyan  stressed that the crisis situation created after the war, as well as  the elections, showed the viability of democracy in our country,  therefore, democracy in Armenia is another irreversible process.

During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed the agenda of  Armenia-EU relations, as well as issues related to the situation in  the region and its settlement.

Nikol Pashinyan highly appreciated the role of the EU, in particular,  President of the European Council Charles Michel in ensuring the  return of 15 Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan, noting that  Armenia is ready to respond to the humanitarian step with an  appropriate step. The Acting Prime Minister stressed the need for the  full implementation of the trilateral agreement signed by Azerbaijan  on November 9, 2020, the return of all  prisoners of war held by  Azerbaijan , as well as a peaceful settlement of the situation on the  Armenian-Azerbaijani border.

Pashinyan stressed that representatives of the Armed Forces of  Azerbaijan should leave the sovereign territory of Armenia, recalling  that earlier he had made an appropriate proposal on this matter.

Referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Nikol Pashinyan noted  that the process of a comprehensive settlement of the conflict should  take place within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.