Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, during a panel discussion held within the framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos, touched upon the prospects for relations with the EU, the implementation of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive Agreement, and the negotiations on visa liberalization. During the question-and-answer session, Pashinyan, in particular, said:
There was an initiative by the Civil Society and they presented a draft law on the starting of the process of accession of Armenia European union and our government endorsed that and there is a very high probability that our Parliament would adopt that law that would mean legally that we start the process of getting more and more closer to European Union. Why do we want to be closer to European Union? Because we are democracy when you are a democracy you want to be closer or in mainstream of democracy because otherwise it would be illogical.
Now we work very closely with European Union and to be honest during last years the tremendous changes and improvements happened in our relations with the European Union. For example we just started the negotiations on Visa liberalization agreement which was in our agenda for long years but we we weren't able to start even the negotiations and I hope that we will be able to end it and sign it as soon as possible.
Now Armenia is included in European Peace Facility which is also very important. We have now a EU Civilian Monitoring Mission in our country which is also very important. We are in the process of implementation of Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement with the European Union and we are working very closely as far as economic ties are concerned.
We want to be closer to European Union economically as well but from the other side we want to be closer in terms of economy with our regional countries as well. Unfortunately, from beginning of our independence we were kind of in economic isolation because our borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan were and are closed.
To make change not only in our region but globally in terms of overcoming these supply chain shocks we put on the table our proposal of our of “Crossroads of Peace” project which, I hope is familiar to you. It is about making our regional transportation communication more effective and to create new transport communications not only with Azerbaijan but with Turkey as well, to deepen our cooperation with Iran with Georgia. It is also about the European Union because when this project is implemented we will have new chain of routs through Armenia for European Union.
It isn't just matter of economy. It is also very important security factor because you just mentioned interdependence as a very important factor for overall stability and security. This project will work in case and or when we will be able to create sustainable peace with Azerbaijan which unfortunately isn't the case. Now we are working on it. Now we need to be able to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey and we are working on this topic as well.
People are asking whether I'm optimistic or pessimistic on this matter. I should say that I'm neither optimistic nor pessimistic. I'm pragmatic I just understand that we need to work until the task is solved. The main and I think most important thing is not to be derailed from peace agenda we need to concentrate it on the goal and to continue to work without giving up, without being frustrated. In this case, we need to have support of the International Community and I hope that this support will be delivered.
Question - Thank you Mr. Prime Minister. You reminded me of what my former boss in the European Commission Jacques Delors used to say, “You don’t have to choose between being an optimist or a pessimist, you have to choose to be an activist”.
The moment we live in is a geopolitical one where every player wants others to take sides. And you will be one of those whom everyone will say you have to be with me, and if you are not with me, you are against me. There is the US, there is obviously China, in your neighborhood there are players too, there is Russia, there is the Gulf countries, there is Europe. So how will you navigate this?
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan - You know that’s why we decided to adopt balanced and balancing foreign policy, which means that we will try to create balance between our different relations with the European Union, with Russia, with our regional powers.
Our relations with Iran are very important, and I mentioned already we are trying to establish diplomatic relations with Turkey, we are trying to reach a peace deal with Azerbaijan. Of course, it is not easy, but from the other side I don’t think it is impossible. Because it could seem kind of strange, but we are suspiciously transparent with all our international partners, we are sharing with all our partners what we are doing with other partners.
You mentioned our decision to get closer with the European Union, but we are trying very intensively to share our position with Iran, we are trying to share very actively our position in Russia, and with all our partners. Because, you know, after all, Armenia is an independent country, and of course there are very many challenges and threats in this challenging time, but from the other side it is a huge time of changes. Definitely and obviously the times of changes bring huge threats, but from the other side also huge opportunities. We are trying to manage threats and to use opportunities.
I think this is the only pragmatic way to go forward, but without forgetting about balances, because losing the balance could lead to very heavy consequences for security and stability, not only in terms of a country, but in terms of a region and in terms of global stability, because any instability in any region could start a process of chain process worldwide, even in small countries and regions. That’s why I think to be balanced and not forgetting about the task of balancing is the most important thing.
