In Luxembourg, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan has urged European Union (EU) countries to accelerate steps to assist Armenia in the wake of recent Russian restrictions on Armenian products, RFE/RL sources reported from Brussels.

It was a positive and important meeting to counter Russia's hybrid and trade attacks, one of the European diplomats present at the meetings told RFE/RL.

Earlier, RFE/RL learned that the EU intends to offer Armenia preferential conditions— autonomous trade measures (ATM), under which some Armenian goods can enter the European market without customs duties and quotas.

During Mirzoyan's visit to Luxembourg, according to RFE/RL sources, the European Commission EU reaffirmed this commitment. The list of respective goods is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Mirzoyan’s visit confirmed the deepening relations between the EU and Armenia, said another European diplomat, adding that the FM also emphasized Armenia’s desire to diversify its energy sector and stressed the need for the EU to take steps in that direction.

According to RFE/RL sources, during the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan expressed hope that Armenia’s border with Turkey would be reopened in the near future. Also, he noted the uncertainty in the peace process with Azerbaijan that emerged after the June 7 parliamentary elections in Armenia, as a result of which Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s ruling Civil Contract party failed to gain a constitutional majority.