Tuesday, February 13 2024 22:00

ArmInfo. We remain convinced that Armenia and Azerbaijan should reaffirm that they  recognize each other's territorial integrity based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration and the most recent maps elaborated by competent and authorized bodies of the Soviet Union should become the basis for  the delimitation of the borders between the two countries.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated during a joint press  conference with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and  Security Policy Josep Borrell.

The full text of the RA Foreign Minister published on the official  website of the RA MFA is presented below.

"Honourable  Mr. High Representative, Dear Mr. Borrell, 

Thank you very much for the warm hospitality shown to me and my  delegation during this visit.  Dear colleagues and media  representatives, 

It is important to emphasise that last year was characterised by very  intensive dynamics of deepening of the Armenia-EU relations, and I am  glad to continue this path here today looking into our extensive  agenda as well as new perspectives.  So, today we had a very fruitful  meeting of the Armenia-EU Partnership Council, touching upon a number  of issues, including reforms, people-to-people contacts, economic  cooperation, as well as security matters.

We exchanged views on the state of implementation of the Armenia-EU  Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement - a landmark  document - which remains the cornerstone of our relations and serves  as a blueprint for our reform agenda. Its timely implementation is  one of our priorities, and I'm glad that we are steadily moving  towards this goal. We reviewed Armenia's progress on reforms which  cover a wide range of areas of life, including the fight against  corruption, strengthening the rule of law, protection of human  rights, justice sector, education, green economy as well as migration  institutional reforms.  With Mr Borrell, we also noted with  satisfaction that since our previous Partnership Council meeting the  Armenia-EU agenda was enriched with new important dimensions and  mechanisms. 

First - the security dimension: I'd like to mention the Political and  security dialogue and deployment of the EU civilian monitoring  mission at our international border with Azerbaijan.

On economy: while the EU continues to remain one of the main trade  partners of Armenia, we agreed to exploit all the available  mechanisms to further enhance the trade and economic ties both on a  bilateral level and through regional projects. In this regard, the  importance of Armenia's participation in the project of the Black Sea  Submarine Cable as well as the effective implementation of the  Economic and Investment Plan was stressed.

On mobility issues: I would like to stress that Armenia believes that  all the necessary requirements have been met and it is time to launch  the Armenia-EU visa liberalization dialogue. It is a choice to be  made to bring our peoples closer and provide them with tangible  outcomes of our cooperation. 

Dear attendees,

Today's in-depth discussion allowed us to assess what we have already  done together and to explore new avenues for enriching our  partnership and identifying new Partnership Priorities. 

Dear colleagues,

Today we had an opportunity to exchange views on the current security  situation in the South Caucasus and beyond. We discussed all the  challenges that Armenia is facing in its efforts to create a peaceful  and secure environment in our region.  I reiterated Armenia's  commitment to agreements reflected in statements adopted in  quadrilateral meetings in Prague in October 2022 and in Granada last  autumn as well as the agreements, announced by the President of the  European Council Charles Michel following the trilateral meetings  with leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan in Brussels on May 14 and July  15, 2023. We remain convinced that Armenia and Azerbaijan should  reaffirm that they recognize each other's territorial integrity based  on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration and the most recent maps elaborated  by competent and authorized bodies of the Soviet Union should become  the basis for the delimitation of the borders between the two  countries. This means that in the process of delimitation between  Armenia and Azerbaijan no new border has to be created, but the  borders confirmed by the Alma-Ata declaration and later reaffirmed by  the parties should be reproduced on the ground.

I also underlined the fundamental agreed principle according to which  unblocking of regional communications shall take place under the  sovereignty and jurisdiction of countries, as well as based on the  principles of reciprocity and equality. In this context, with HR/VP  Borrell we exchanged views on the initiative of the Government of  Armenia "Crossroads of Peace" and its implementation as part of the  peace agenda and a real opportunity to increase the interconnectivity  in our region.

We expect that Azerbaijan will constructively return to the  negotiating table and adhere to the mentioned agreements. Armenia has  such a political will.

Dear attendees, 

Today we also discussed the efforts aimed at ensuring the needs and  rights of more than 100,000 Armenians forcibly displaced from  Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of ethnic cleansing by Azerbaijan. We  appreciate the EU's engagement and support in this direction.

The humanitarian issues, including release and repatriation of  Armenian detainees, solving the issue of missing persons and  preservation of the Armenian cultural heritage under the control of  Azerbaijan, were also on our agenda. I also informed the EU  colleagues that, guided by humanitarian purposes and as a  confidence-building measure, Armenia has recently prepared through  inquiries among the former Nagorno-Karabakh officials and transferred  to Azerbaijan new maps of minefields. I asked for possible engagement  of the EU for verification of those maps.

Concluding my remarks, I want to stress again Armenia's willingness  to further deepen the partnership with the European Union based on an  ambitious agenda, for realising the aspirations of our citizens and  for a more prosperous South Caucasus.  Thank you very much."