RA MFA: Armenia`s EU accession process initiative aligns with ongoing  cooperation dynamics with  EU

ArmInfo. The initiative to launch Armenia's accession process to the European Union aligns with  the ongoing cooperation with the EU and its member states, as well as with the aspirations of the Armenian people for European values. 

Deputy Foreign Minister of the Republic of Armenia Paruyr  Hovhannisyan made this remark during a meeting of the Commission on  European Integration on January 24 while  commenting on the  government's stance on the proposed legislation  on the launch of   Armenia's EU accession process put forward by the initiative group.

As noted by the Deputy Minister, the desire to align more close with  the EU was expressed in  RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's speech  at the European Parliament. This aspiration is also reflected in the  government's program for 2021-2026. Additionally, Hovhannisyan noted  that the EU has declared its political support for the Armenian  authorities. In the context of Armenia's  EU integration, efforts are  underway to enhance cooperation in various areas. There has been a  significant increase in political dialogue, and discussions are  ongoing regarding a new partnership agenda between the RA and the EU.  The scope of relations has expanded to include cooperation in   security and defense, among other areas.

 Speaking about the compatibility of the EU and international  structures, the Deputy Minister emphasized that Armenia as a member  of the CSTO, also has the opportunity to use the instruments of the  European Peace Facility. "This is an exceptional precedent, which  demonstrates the possibility of using various platforms,"  Hovhannisyan said. In response to parliamentarians' question about  potential geopolitical risks, the Deputy Minister referenced recent  meetings of the RA Foreign Minister in Moscow and the Deputy Minister  in Tehran. During these meetings, the entire agenda of bilateral  relations between Armenia and Russia, as well as Armenia and Iran,  was discussed. Hovhannisyan noted that this evidence of the country's  authorities' balanced policy.