Visa liberalization with the European Union is a key priority for Armenia and an important component of the country’s broader and deepening partnership with the EU, Armenian Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at a joint news conference following a meeting with Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze.
“We highly appreciate Latvia’s continued support for the Armenia-EU visa liberalization dialogue and look forward to its constructive engagement at every stage of this process. We hope that, with Latvia’s continued support, Armenia will be able to advance its ambitious reform agenda, which is a cornerstone of our efforts to bring the country closer to the European Union,” he said.
Mirzoyan said Armenia and Latvia have succeeded in building a strong and dynamic political dialogue in recent years, as well as a partnership based on friendship and shared democratic values.
“Expanding economic cooperation and diversifying Armenia’s export markets were at the heart of our discussions today. We agree that it is important to translate our strong political dialogue into tangible economic results by further boosting bilateral trade, encouraging investment and establishing close ties between our business communities.
“In this context, I expressed my particular gratitude to Minister Braze for her swift response and support in facilitating the urgent export of certain Armenian goods to the Latvian market. This practical assistance is greatly appreciated and demonstrates Latvia’s readiness to contribute to Armenia’s economic diversification at a time when it is urgently needed.
“We also emphasized the importance of reciprocal visits by business delegations, organizing joint business forums, establishing direct links between our countries’ private sectors, as well as closer cooperation between the two countries’ investment promotion agencies. Armenia is ready to explore specific investment opportunities with Latvia and develop targeted, mutually beneficial economic projects,” Mirzoyan said.
He said the sides agreed on the need to develop more targeted and results-oriented cooperation in areas including energy, resilience to hybrid threats, digital transformation, advanced technologies and artificial intelligence, e-governance, cybersecurity and education.
“Today, we also exchanged views on regional developments, the broader geopolitical situation and existing challenges.
“I presented Armenia’s efforts aimed at further strengthening and institutionalizing the peace already established between Armenia and Azerbaijan. We also discussed the importance of unblocking regional economic and transport infrastructure, which is a direct result of the peace and stability established in our region. A vivid example is the TRIPP project, which will soon enter the construction phase. I emphasized that the new realities emerging in the region create significant opportunities for developing interregional links, expanding economic cooperation and advancing connectivity projects,” Mirzoyan said.
European Commission spokesperson Paula Pinho has not confirmed that a visa-free regime between the EU and Armenia will be introduced by 2029, saying it is still too early to predict any timeframe.
“It is still too early to predict whether 2029 or another date will mark the moment of visa liberalization. I would say that, yes, it is still far too early for such certainty,” Pinho said.
In July, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he expected visa liberalization with the EU by 2029.
