Mirzoyan: Armenia has reduced its dependence on defense imports from  a single source by up to 95%.

ArmInfo.Armenia has reduced its dependence on defense imports from a single source by up to 95%.  Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan stated this at the opening of the Regional Meeting of the EU Ambassadors to Eastern Europe and Central Asia, in the context of security diversification.

"Continuing the theme of security diversification, I would like to  draw your attention to the fact that Armenia has reduced its  dependence on defense imports from a single source by up to 95%. In  parallel, our government has been able to exercise more independent  border control, as well as consider alternative ways to ensure energy  independence, including in the nuclear and renewable energy sectors,"  Mirzoyan said, as quoted by the press service of the Armenian Foreign  Ministry.

According to him, based on the goal of ensuring a more secure  and   predictable environment for the country, the Armenian government has  decided to engage more closely in international legal mechanisms, and   has ratified the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.   Speaking about regional peace, the head of the Armenian Foreign  Ministry noted that the priority of the Armenian authorities remains  to shape  and promote a peaceful and prosperous environment around  the country. " Peace has no alternative for our country. Our  government is firmly committed to promoting sustainable peace and  prosperity in the South Caucasus. We consistently strive for the  establishment of a comprehensive and institutionalized peace with  Azerbaijan. As you know, Armenia and Azerbaijan have announced that  the draft text of the Peace Treaty has been agreed upon, and Armenia  is ready to immediately sign and ratify this document. Although it is  still unclear whether Azerbaijan has sincere concerns or is  artificially delaying the process, the fact is that the Peace Treaty  agreed upon between the two countries has not yet been signed. If the  concerns are sincere, for example, on a constitutional issue, then  without going into details, I can assure you that the clearest and  most direct way to address all the concerns of the parties is to sign  the treaty and ratify it by the Parliament after a positive  conclusion by the Constitutional Court of Armenia," the minister  said.

 In this vein, Mirzoyan called on European partners to intensify  their support for this process and consistently emphasize the need  for the immediate signing of a peace agreement with Armenia both in  their direct contacts with Baku and in their public statements and  communications.  " In parallel with our efforts to establish peace,  we are actively promoting the issue of unblocking communications in  our region, within the framework of the principles enshrined in the  "Crossroads of Peace" initiative. This initiative proposes that all  transport infrastructure and communications in the South Caucasus, be  they roads, railways, energy or communication lines, operate under  the sovereignty and national jurisdiction of the states through whose  territory they pass, and be based on the principles of reciprocity  and equality," he continued.

Mirzoyan noted that Yerevan believes that the "Crossroads of Peace"  is fully compatible with the EU's "Global Gate" and "Middle Corridor"  concepts, which increasingly emphasize transparency, security and  respect for sovereignty in communications. " Armenia's engagement in  these formats is both timely and necessary. Now is the right time to  anchor Armenia more deeply and strategically in Europe's evolving  vision of connectivity, as a committed, predictable, democratic, and  principled partner at the heart of a region undergoing profound  transformation.  In this vein, we are actively exploring multimodal  corridors connecting the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea, stretching  eastwards to the growing markets and energy resources of Central  Asia. We welcome the EU's increased engagement in Central Asia and  encourage synergies between the EU's South Caucasus and Central Asia  strategies," the Armenian Foreign Minister said. 

According to him, as European Commission President Ursula von der  Leyen rightly noted that: "The opening of Armenia's borders with  Turkey and Azerbaijan will be a game-changer. And it will bring  Europe and Central Asia closer than ever before." In this vein, he  added that Armenia is ready to act as a constructive bridge between  these regions, promoting not only infrastructure links, but also  digital, energy and regulatory interoperability.  " Armenia's  commitment to regional peace and stability is also evidenced by the  steps we have taken in the process of normalizing relations with  Turkey. High-level dialogue continues, including meetings between the  Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Turkey, as well as my  contacts with the Foreign Minister. We are deeply convinced that a  full normalization, the establishment of diplomatic relations," the  diplomat said.

He noted that Armenia has made an irreversible choice towards  democracy, towards peace, towards Europe. " We are confident that our  European partners will respond to these decisive steps with equally  bold and strategic engagement, strengthening a truly reciprocal and  transformative partnership. In so doing, we seek not only support but  also partnership, not only encouragement but also sustained  engagement.  Together, we can show that in an increasingly divided  world, principled, like-minded partnerships still matter.  Let us  build our partnership on shared values and take bold and creative  steps for the stability, resilience, and prosperity of our region and  beyond," Mirzoyan concluded.