Armenia, EU begin consultations on security, defense cooperation

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Armenia and the EU have begun consultations on cooperation in the fields of security and defense, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said on Monday as he met the 27-member bloc's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, state news agency Armenpress reported.

Addressing a press conference with Kallas in the capital Yerevan, Mirzoyan described the launch of the consultations as an “important step to bring the framework of our cooperation in line with modern challenges and to make additional efforts to overcome them.”

“In this context, I would like to especially emphasize the cooperation aimed at strengthening Armenia's resilience, further developing democratic institutions, which also includes such areas as combating hybrid threats and disinformation,” he added.

Mirzoyan said Yerevan and Brussels also completed negotiations on a new partnership agenda.

“This is an ambitious document that will complement and further deepen the Armenia-EU bilateral agenda with new areas of cooperation, while contributing to the effective implementation of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between Armenia and the EU," the foreign minister said.

Mirzoyan said they touched on the activities of the EU Monitoring Mission in Armenia (EUMA) and discussed providing aid to Yerevan under the European Peace Facility.

Kallas, for her part, said Armenia and the EU have never been closer as they are now, welcoming Yerevan’s readiness to deepen their partnership.

She said both parties completed negotiations on a new partnership agenda, which she said defined the priorities in terms of "economic development, security and resilience."

The EU official also said the bloc continues its "strong support" for the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan “based on respect of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and inviolability of borders,” and that Brussels is "pleased and encouraged" with the progress so far.

“There is no alternative to these three principles," Kallas said, arguing that better relations between the two countries can pave the way for a “lasting peace” in the region.

Kallas arrived in the Armenian capital on an official visit Sunday. She held talks with President Vahagn Khachaturyanand is expected to meet Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Armenia is already a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), and Russia has warned that growing alignment with the EU could violate agreements.