At a Europe Day event in Yerevan, Deputy Foreign Minister Robert Abisoghomonyan emphasized the deepening partnership between Armenia and the European Union, describing relations as "closer than ever" across political, economic, and people-to-people dimensions. He highlighted recent milestones, including the European Political Community Summit and the first Armenia–EU summit held in the Armenian capital.
Below is the transcript of the Deputy Foreign Minister’s speech, as published by the Foreign Ministry.
“Your Excellencies, dear colleagues, dear guests, dear citizens,
I am pleased to welcome you to this event organized on the occasion of Europe Day. Europe Day is a celebration of peace, unity, solidarity, and shared values. It is a reminder that Europe is not only a geographical area; it is, first and foremost, a community formed around values and principles, where human dignity, democracy, freedom, and cooperation constitute the foundation of a common future.
It is symbolic that this year Europe Day in the Republic of Armenia is being marked under the slogan: “Armenia–EU: Closer Than Ever.” And indeed, today Armenia and the European Union are closer than ever—both in terms of political dialogue, economic cooperation, and increasingly developing people-to-people ties.
This year’s celebration has a special meaning for Armenia, as it comes just days after the 8th European Political Community Summit held in Yerevan, as well as the inaugural Armenia–EU Summit. During those days, Yerevan became an important center of European political dialogue, demonstrating Armenia’s growing role as a reliable platform for dialogue and partnership.
The European Political Community Summit reaffirmed the shared vision built around peace, cooperation, and solidarity. The Armenia–EU Summit marked one of the key milestones in the history of our relations, reflecting an unprecedented depth of partnership and a jointly forward-looking agenda.
Today, Armenia consistently advances its vision of peace and connectivity. The Crossroads of Peace initiative as well as the TRIPP project are aimed at creating new opportunities in the region through the development of transport, energy, and digital links. It is encouraging that new opportunities are also emerging for deepening Armenia–EU cooperation in this direction, as evidenced by the joint declaration on connectivity partnership signed within the framework of the Armenia–EU Summit.
Significant progress has also been recorded in the visa liberalization process with the EU. The first progress report presented by the European Commission reaffirmed the seriousness of reforms carried out by Armenia and its political commitment. The fact that the assessment was conducted in an unprecedentedly short period speaks both to the intensity of ongoing reforms and to the tangible results already achieved.
Perhaps the most important foundation of Armenia–EU relations is people. The ties formed in education, culture, youth exchanges, science, innovation, and business make our partnership real, tangible, and visible in people’s daily lives.
For Armenia and the Armenian people, the European Union is not just a partner. It is a space of peace, democracy, cooperation, and opportunity.
Dear attendees,
Today, as the world continues to face numerous challenges, it is all the more important to preserve the values and principles that unite us. I am confident that the Armenia–EU partnership will continue to develop, contributing to strengthening peace, stability, and prosperity both in our region and beyond.
Once again, I congratulate all of us on Europe Day.
Thank you.”
