Armenian foreign minister meets EU foreign policy chief, discusses strategic partnership

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Tuesday met with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas in Brussels, Belgium, and discussed the strategic partnership between Yerevan and the bloc.

The two held detailed discussions on preparations for the upcoming Armenia–EU summit, which will take place in Yerevan in May, according to a statement issued by the Armenian Foreign Ministry.

They emphasized the importance of programs that produce tangible results for Armenian citizens, as well as the need to carry out mutually beneficial projects to improve economic and transportation connectivity and promote energy sector cooperation, it said.

Mirzoyan and Kallas also discussed initiatives to strengthen democratic resilience, "which form an important part of the value-based Armenia-EU partnership and its strategic agenda," and agreed to ensure the continuity and effectiveness of existing mechanisms that support democratic processes, the statement said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at the Kremlin in early April that Moscow is not concerned about Armenia's relations with the EU.

He emphasized, however, that Yerevan will be unable to join both the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the EU.

Later, Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan said Yerevan would withdraw from the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and the EAEU if Russia decides to raise prices for gas supplied to the country.

“But I don’t think it will come to that, as I know that a very good and effective conversation took place between the heads of state,” he added.​​​​​​​