
ArmInfo. Following the Partnership Council meeting in Brussels on December 2, Armenia and the European Union will sign a strategic partnership agenda. EU High Commissioner for Enlargement Policy Marta Kos announced this at a meeting with Armenian journalists in Brussels.
The new partnership agenda will be signed by Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan and EU High Commissioner for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas.
"A meeting of the European Union-Armenia Partnership Council will be held, at which we will adopt a new strategic partnership agenda between Armenia and the European Union, which will serve as an action plan, a roadmap for what we can do," Marta Kos said, according to Armenpress. She clarified that the agenda includes assistance to promote Armenia's economic development and strengthen its institutions. The new partnership agenda will also include defense and security cooperation. Marta Kos added that they will support Armenia in countering possible hybrid threats, the spread of disinformation, and cyberattacks in the lead-up to the upcoming parliamentary elections.
When asked whether she believes peace will be established between Armenia and Azerbaijan, given that the Azerbaijani government's rhetoric remains unchanged and the country's president continues to promote the so-called "Western Azerbaijan" narrative, Kos stated that she is optimistic about the establishment of a final peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
"I was in Baku and spoke with the President of Azerbaijan, as well as with your President and your Prime Minister in Yerevan. I received very positive signals from both countries. So, yes, I believe. I believe in the possibility of peace, and, you know, what's happening now is already a positive development," Kos said. She recalled that reciprocal visits between Armenian and Azerbaijani experts recently took place, something that would have been unthinkable before.
The EU High Commissioner also emphasized Turkey's role in establishing a final peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. "Tomorrow I will meet with the Turkish Foreign Minister. We are also following developments in relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. From the outside, one might doubt the realism of the intentions. I feel they are real, since the United States of America is also involved. We are talking about peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is much more than just peace between two countries; we are talking about regional peace. That is why I am very positive. And, in my view, yes, this peace treaty has yet to be signed, but we all, including the European Union, must do everything possible to ensure that your country (Armenia) and Azerbaijan can live in peace. And this is what we are working towards and what we hope for," Marta Kos concluded.
Kos also raised the possibility of the European Union's participation in the Trump Route Project (TRIPP), stating that its implementation is an agreement between Armenia and the United States. She emphasized that the European Union is also negotiating with the United States on this issue, keeping in mind the broader picture of overall connectivity. "We're talking about a road from Central Asia to Europe. It's only 42 kilometers long. It's crucial for us that everything we do concerns not only this 42-kilometer section, but also everything that goes east and west, and that all of this is done simultaneously," the EU High Commissioner said. She reported that she had asked Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Davit Khudatyan to present a list of priorities that are most important for Armenia in terms of ensuring this comprehensive connectivity. "We have our own ideas. We're discussing these issues with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Therefore, it makes no sense for us to do this piecemeal. But in this regard, the cooperation or participation of the United States of America is also much more important than simply building 42 kilometers of railway," Kos emphasized.