Armenia appears to be moving ever closer to the European Union as its relations with Russia are “derailed”.
The bloc decided open dialogue on the abolition of visas with Armenia, the EU announced on Monday, in what Yerevan’s foreign minister called “landmark” for Russia’s traditional ties with the bloc.
Financial support of 10 million euros
The European Council said on its website that the bloc had decided to open visa negotiations with Yerevan, as well as offer 10 million euros ($10.89 million) in aid to Armenia’s military.
Armenia – in recent months – has rushed to build ties with Western countries amid rapidly deteriorating relations with treaty ally Russiawhich Armenian authorities accused of does not protect it from its long-time neighbor and rival, Azerbaijan.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan said in his statement that “This is a very important milestone in the deepening of the partnership between Armenia and the EU, which is based on shared values and principles.”
The abolition of visas will allow Armenians to make short visits to countries in the EU’s Schengen zone – which is free of internal borders – without needing a visa.
Several other post-Soviet countries, including from Moldova, Ukraine and neighboring Georgia, Armeniareceived such status.
The terms
In its announcement, the Council indicated that the visa-free regime would be introduced only when Armenia reaches certain “benchmarks”. Armenian media reported that the process could take several years.
A peace deal with Azerbaijan is in the works
Military support for Armenia, which is spread across Europe, notably by France, comes at a time when Yerevan seeks a peace agreement with Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan is preparing to propose signing a document with Armenia on the basic principles of a future peace treaty as an interim measure, a senior Azerbaijani official said on Sunday.
Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have repeatedly stated that want to sign a peace treaty to end the conflict in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said on Saturday that the text of a treaty is 80%-90% ready, but reiterated that it is impossible to sign before Armenia amends its constitution to remove an implicit reference to Karabakh’s independence, which Armenia has rejected.
In recent months, the two countries have tried to move forward on a peace treaty, including the demarcation of borders, with Armenia agreeing to hand over four disputed border villages to Azerbaijan.
In June, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that a peace treaty with Azerbaijan was close to being concluded, but that your country will not accept your demands to change its constitution.
On July 5, Armenia’s Constitution Day, Pashinyan said the country needs a new constitution “that the people consider to be the one they created, the one they accepted, the one that is written in it is their idea of the state that also created relations between people and citizens in this state.”
Source dailysabah