Tuesday, December 12 2023 12:42

ArmInfo.Given the various challenges facing the Eastern Partnership region over the past few  years, including upheavals in the security architecture and humanitarian challenges, consistency in the organization of Eastern Partnership (EaP) ministerial meetings is welcome, Armenia's FM  Ararat Mirzoyan stated at a meeting in the format of the EU Council of Foreign Ministers in Brussels.

The Armenian minister recalled that since its creation, the EaP has  sought to strengthen partnerships with the EU and its member states  based on shared values, deepening economic and political cooperation  and supporting the reform agenda.

At the same time, he added that the Eastern Partnership has made a  significant contribution to the process of democratic transition in  Armenia, which has made a clear decision to follow the irreversible  path of democratization and reform.

Pointing to Armenia's determination to continue the path of  democratization with significant support from the EU, Mirzoyan noted  that the latest manifestation of determination was the ratification  of the Rome Statute. According to him, by joining the International  Court of Justice, Armenia contributed to the strengthening of the  international legal system, while simultaneously confirming the  sovereign right to make decisions based on its own national  interests.

Mirzoyan further welcomed the decision of the European Commission to  propose to the European Council to begin negotiations on the  accession of Moldova and Ukraine to the EU, and to grant candidate  status to Georgia. At the same time, he expressed the conviction that  these new developments should not cause a further decline in interest  in the EaP, but be an incentive for those partners who have a strong  intention and determination to become closer to the European Union.

Mirzoyan stated that Armenia intends to get closer to the EU as much  as is acceptable for the European Union.

"As you know, Armenia is currently facing serious problems. Our  government's efforts are focused on addressing the humanitarian  problems of the forcibly displaced Armenian population from Nagorno-  Karabakh. As a result of the use of force, they were forced to leave  their homes within a week. In this regard, we are grateful to the EU  and to the EU member states for their humanitarian assistance to  Armenia in the fight against the massive influx of people from  Nagorno-Karabakh," said the head of the Armenian Foreign Ministry,  without mentioning on whose side this aggression was committed.

Together, he reiterated the political will of the Armenian government  to build a stable and lasting peace in the region. Mirzoyan  emphasized Yerevan's readiness to move forward in this direction,  based on the principles adopted by RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,  European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel  Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Granada.

"The same principles regarding mutual recognition of territorial  integrity, mutual recognition of borders, opening of communications,  transport infrastructure, which we previously adopted during  trilateral meetings of leaders in Brussels," added the head of the  Armenian Foreign Ministry.

Mirzoyan once again emphasized that Armenia has repeatedly  demonstrated its readiness and determination to establish lasting  peace and stability in the region through normalization of relations  with its neighbors, where all countries will live with open borders  and be connected by active economic, political and cultural ties. In  this vein, he touched upon the Crossroads of the World project as  part of the peace agenda.

"At the heart of this program is the development of regional  communications through the repair, construction and operation of  roads, railways, pipelines, cables and power lines. In addition, the  recent joint statement with Azerbaijan on the exchange of prisoners  and detainees, as well as Armenia's agreement on part of the COP29  conference, is "Another manifestation of our determination to achieve  peace and stability in the South Caucasus. We hope that after this  positive momentum, Azerbaijan will remain committed to the peace  process," the minister noted.

Summarizing what was said, Mirzoyan expressed the conviction that all  EaP partner countries must adhere to the same values and principles,  since without respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms,  without a safe and peaceful environment, any initiative is doomed to  failure.