Yerevan is hosting consultations on security and defense between Armenia and the European Union. These consultations are being held on the margins of the current visit to Armenia by Kaja Kallas, the Vice-President of the EU Commission and High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

And at the press conference held in the Armenian capital on Monday after the private conversation, the document signing ceremony, and the start of the aforesaid consultations, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan noted three main achievements.

First, he pointed to the signing of the agreement on the participation of Armenia in crisis situations, which, according to the minister, is a vivid example of mutual willingness to expand domains of cooperation.

Then, Mirzoyan noted the launch of consultations between Armenia and the EU in security and defense. According to him, this is a decisive step in bringing cooperation in line with modern challenges and making additional efforts to overcome them. In this context, he stressed the importance of cooperation for the further development of Armenia’s institutions in countering hybrid threats and disinformation. In this context, the activities of the EU civilian monitoring mission in Armenia and the assistance being provided to the through the European Peace Facility were discussed.

And the third achievement, according to Mirzoyan, is the successful conclusion of negotiations on the new Armenia-EU partnership agenda.

“This is an ambitious document that will add new domains of cooperation and deepen the Armenia-EU agenda. At the same time, it will promote the effective implementation of the document on comprehensive cooperation,” the minister said, and added that Armenia-EU relations had never been so close and extensive. Also, the Armenian FM thanked the EU for its implementation of programs, financial support, and willingness to stand with Armenia in difficult times.

Also, the minister recalled the Armenian parliament’s recent passing of the law on the start of Armenia’s EU membership. According to him, during the meeting, the dialogue on visa liberalization, the possibility of market rapprochement, the potential for complementarity between the EU’s Global Gateway and Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace projects, as well as the Middle Corridor project, where the South Caucasus can play the role of a bridge between Europe and Central Asia, were discussed.

The next summit of the European Political Community scheduled for next year in Yerevan was discussed, too.