Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said he sees Armenia as a member of the European Union within 20 years, outlining his vision for the country’s future during a discussion hosted by the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA) in Dublin.
“I see Armenia as part of the European Union,” Pashinyan said when asked how he envisioned the country two decades from now, 1lurer.am reports.
The prime minister also discussed the normalization of relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan, prospects for lasting regional peace and Armenia’s foreign policy priorities.
On relations with Turkey, Pashinyan said the two countries were close to establishing diplomatic ties and fully reopening their borders. He described his recent meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as positive.
“Two days ago, I had a very positive meeting with President Erdogan, and we both acknowledged that we have made progress and are very close to the final step, which is establishing diplomatic relations and fully opening the borders,” he said.
Turning to Azerbaijan, Pashinyan described the current situation as a historic opportunity to establish lasting peace.
“We now have a very realistic and historic opportunity to establish lasting, definitive, enduring, long-term and reliable peace, and it would be unforgivable not to take advantage of this opportunity. And it is my personal mission, and the mission of our government, to seize this historic opportunity,” he stated.
Asked whether Armenia was reconsidering its foreign policy orientation, Pashinyan emphasized that Yerevan does not intend to distance itself from one partner to strengthen relations with another.
“Armenia is where it has always been and where it is now. Armenia will remain there, in its place… We do not want to distance ourselves from any partners in order to become closer to others. We are simply implementing and pursuing our balanced and balancing foreign policy,” he said.
Pashinyan also discussed the Crossroads of Peace initiative, saying its implementation could transform Armenia and the wider South Caucasus into a hub for peace and transport connections.
Former Security Council Secretary Armen Grigoryan has described the prospect of enshrining EU membership aspirations in Armenia’s Constitution as extremely dangerous. He said he had warned Pashinyan and other government members about the risks while still in office.
“I tried to persuade them, and I would have continued trying to convince them not to pursue this path,” Grigoryan said.
“I tried to persuade them, and I would have continued trying to convince them not to pursue this path,” he said.
