Armenia has never had such intensive period in its relations with EU

ArmInfo. Armenia has never had such an intensive period in its relations with the European Union. Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Hovhannisyan said this in an interview with Armenpress.

The diplomat recalled that it all started with the speech of the  Prime Minister of Armenia in the European Parliament in October 2023,  where it was stated that Armenia is ready to get closer to the  European Union to the extent that the EU is ready for it.

According to him, the main focus is on creating a new partnership  agenda, and these negotiations will be completed in the coming weeks,  but other important events have also taken place in parallel.

"The European Union has never been such an important player for us.  Now, with the appearance of EU observers on our borders, new formats  such as the political and security dialogue, which is a new  mechanism, and other initiatives, the EU is becoming a very important  partner for us in the security sphere," he said.

The diplomat specifically mentioned the European Instrument for Peace  and the decision to begin visa liberalization negotiations. "We have  been trying to ensure this for many years, and you know how reserved  the group of partners is when it comes to migration-related issues,  but we managed to achieve a decision, and in December, substantive  negotiations on visa liberalization began," he added. 

According to him, the EU continues to be Armenia's most important  donor, its most important supporter in terms of democratic processes.

"The extension of the EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia for another  two years was a very important decision. The Monitoring Mission plays  an important role in ensuring our security. This monitoring of our  borders has not only contributed to the reduction of incidents, but  has also significantly increased the level of awareness in Brussels  and European capitals. Now the situation is viewed through the eyes  of a third, impartial observer. This also plays an important role in  increasing the level of self-confidence of the population of our  border regions. This mission also helps in the implementation of a  number of our projects in the field of infrastructure activities. By  the way, flights to Kapan Airport are also monitored by observers. We  attach great importance to it (referring to the activities of the EU  Monitoring Mission in Armenia: ed.), and we immediately responded at  the level of the Minister of Foreign Affairs and are ready to closely  cooperate with the observers," the diplomat emphasized.

Touching upon the contradictions between European integration and  Armenia's membership in the EAEU, Hovhannisyan noted that in my  practice I have repeatedly heard the word "impossible" in different  situations. According to him, the first time was the situation around  CEPA - the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement signed  between Armenia and the EU in 2017, when it seemed that being a  member of the Eurasian Union there would be no prospects for an  agreement with the EU. However, according to him, Armenia managed to  get a lighter version of this association agreement, preserving 75%  of the provisions of all chapters of sectoral cooperation that comply  with European directives, standards, etc.

"Sometimes it is necessary to approach processes more creatively. As  already said, our approach is to gradually develop cooperation with  the European Union, using all programs and possible sectors.   Especially in this reality, when it is impossible to make long-term  plans, we must move in line with the idea of maximizing the use of  all opportunities. When we have problematic situations, we solve them  at this stage. Now our approach in this regard is step-by-step, and  our rapprochement with the European Union has exactly this narrative.  This is a complex process, it has corresponding stages, and at the  moment the question of what is compatible and what is incompatible is  not on our agenda," Hovhannisyan concluded.