Armenia’s acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan today received Foreign Ministers of Romania and Lithuania Bogdan Aurescu and Gabrielius Landsbergis, Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of Austria Alexander Schallenberg, as well as Managing Director of the European External Action Service for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE Michael Zibert and EU Special Representative for South Caucasus and the crisis in Georgia Toivo Klaar. The visit is authorized by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell.

As reported the Prime Minister’s press office, Pashinyan welcomed the representative visit to Armenia and reminded that it was scheduled at a time when there were more crises than solutions in Armenia. “I’m glad that you visited at a time when elections were held in Armenia, after which our people’s dedication to democratic values was affirmed,” Pashinyan nsaid, adding that now the government can get back to implementing the major agenda, including effective implementation of the provisions stated in the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement.

Romania’s foreign minister stated that this is the first time such a delegation is visiting the region with the primary goal of promoting the Armenia-EU relations, congratulated Nikol Pashinyan on holding the elections at a high level and Civil Contract Party’s victory, as well as the entry into force of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement on March 1 of this year.

Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Landsbergis stated the importance of strengthening of security and stability in the South Caucasus and mentioned the need for the formation and strengthening of an atmosphere for confidence between the sides to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, adding that the EU is ready to provide assistance. In this regard, he attached importance to humanitarian issues, including the solution to the issue related to the return of Armenian prisoners of war being kept in Azerbaijan.

Alexander Schallenberg also touched upon the results of the elections held in Armenia, noting that democracy won, not just the Civil Contract Party.

Expressing gratitude for the opinions, Pashinyan emphasized that the crisis created after the war, as well as the elections showed the viability of democracy in Armenia.

During the meeting, the interlocutors discussed the agenda of the Armenia-EU relations, as well as the current situation in the region and the solution to the situation. Pashinyan highly appreciated the role that the EU, particularly President of the European Council Charles Michel played in ensuring the return of 15 Armenian prisoners of war from Azerbaijan and noted that Armenia is ready to respond to the humanitarian act with an appropriate act. The acting premier underscored the need for full implementation by Azerbaijan of the trilateral agreement signed on November 9, 2020, the return of all prisoners of war, as well as the peaceful solution to the situation created on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. He also stressed that the issue needs to be solved only with the exit of representatives of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia. Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, Pashinyan stated that the comprehensive settlement of the conflict must be achieved within the scope of the OSCE Minsk Group.