Mr. Minister, dear colleague, I am extremely pleased to welcome you and your delegation to Armenia.

This is not just another visit on the path to developing our relations. Today, we are entering a new phase of partnership, which we have just documented by signing the ‘Declaration on Strategic Partnership between Armenia and the Netherlands’. This is a new milestone that is both symbolic and obliging at the same time. Therefore, I congratulate all of us on reaching this point, express my gratitude for the work done, and wish us success in implementing the cooperation outlined in this document.

Dear colleagues, in our discussions with Minister Veldkamp today, we have already focused on our next steps for which we already have a very concrete and solid foundation - the document I just mentioned. This document covers numerous areas, including strengthening political and economic ties, infrastructure, deepening cooperation in cybersecurity, including combating hybrid threats, strengthening democratic institutions, promoting justice and the rule of law, and last but not least, people-to-people contacts.

Soon you will have the opportunity to get acquainted about the details of the document, as it will be published. I would like, perhaps, taking into account the broader agenda as well, to highlight one or two points. I would like to note the provision according to which continuous efforts will be made towards establishing peace and stability in the South Caucasus, peace that will be based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-use of force or threat of force, and the inviolability of internationally recognized borders. Special attention is also given to the topic of promoting regional and international trade and transport connectivity. It is also noted that the "Crossroads of Peace" project can make a significant contribution in this field.

Among other areas, as essential components of strategic partnership, considering contemporary challenges, I would like to emphasize the importance of strengthening cyber resilience and combating hybrid threats. This is, of course, not just a topic on the bilateral agenda between Armenia and the Netherlands, but is more comprehensive and also relates to cooperation and dialogue between Armenia and the entire European Union.

Continuing on the topic of cooperation with the European Union, I would like to note that with Minister Veldkamp we discussed the new agenda for the Armenia-European Union partnership, the active work being carried out in this direction, and in general the prospects for deepening our partnership and support for Armenia's efforts in this context.

I spoke, of course, about the tasks ahead, but today we have also had the opportunity to summarize and acknowledge that we already have significant achievements in bilateral cooperation. We note with satisfaction that the Netherlands is one of Armenia’s important trade partners within the framework of the European Union, as well as a traditional and tangible supporter of Armenia’s democratic reforms and institutional development, for which I have also expressed gratitude to the Minister on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

Dear colleagues, undoubtedly, we have not shied away from discussing our regional issues as well. I presented the Republic of Armenia’s peace agenda, the dialogue with our neighbors, and the negotiation process with Türkiye and Azerbaijan. I also noted that, with a corresponding constructive approach, we could achieve tangible successes in these directions in the near future.

Let me conclude my remarks. Minister, thank you again for the deep and thorough discussions, I would like to reiterate our readiness to work together towards the continuous strengthening of Armenia’s friendship and comprehensive partnership with the Netherlands.” 

Thank you.

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Question (Radio Azatutyun): Mr. Minister, I would like to know whether Armenia has responded to Azerbaijan’s proposals regarding the peace treaty. Previously, the Prime Minister outlined Armenia’s general approach, stating that mutual renunciation of international claims is acceptable in the event of signing the peace treaty, as well as the non-deployment of observers in the delimited sections. If the treaty has not been signed, it means that Azerbaijan has disagreements. In this case, I would like to ask whether and how Armenia’s approach has changed, and whether the Armenian side agrees, for example, to withdraw claims before the signing of the peace treaty.

Answer (Ararat Mirzoyan): Thank you for your question. In fact, I believe that the answers to your questions can be found in their formulation. The matters you mentioned, along with several other issues, are being discussed within the framework of the peace treaty text. Therefore, if they are agreed upon, they can and must be implemented only after the treaty is signed and enters into force. Yes, we are also discussing provisions such as the exclusion of third-party forces from the Armenia-Azerbaijan interstate border. Yes, we are discussing the mutual renunciation of disputes, claims, and complaints in international legal platforms. If these points are agreed upon, signed, and enter into force, they - like all other provisions - will be subject to mandatory implementation.

We have communicated our position regarding the 12th edition of the draft agreement received from Azerbaijan, and in the near future we will have the opportunity to discuss this position with the Azerbaijani side, as well as all issues related to the finalization, signing and ratification of the agreement.

Our approaches align with Armenia’s current challenges, our peace agenda, our readiness to establish peace with Azerbaijan and with the interests of the Republic of Armenia.

Question (from Dutch Financieele Dagblad): I live and work in Tbilisi. What I hear there is the following: we see a lot of turmoil around the world, there's war in Ukraine, in the US there's a new President who seems to favor Russia in this entire conflict - we need to wait and see what happens. However, do you know what's widely circulated in Georgia? That everything depends on the events in Ukraine, that whatever happens in Ukraine will directly determine what happens in Georgia. I would like to know to what extent the situation is similar in Armenia and whether you feel any pressure from Russia to bring Armenia back into its orbit. We see and know that in recent years, particularly after the Nagorno-Karabakh developments, there's much resentment toward Russia, and Armenia is moving or has moved more toward the EU. Do you feel any pressure from Russia to re-enter its orbit?

Ararat Mirzoyan: I believe that no country in our large region, meaning the entire Eurasian continent, can say that the events unfolding in and around Ukraine will not have any impact on them. Essentially, the whole world today is focused on several issues, and perhaps it's not an exaggeration to say that one of the first, or the first, is the efforts and proposals aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine and the positions that different countries or groups of countries take on this matter.

Of course, the situation in the South Caucasus can also be significantly influenced by this, but I would like to answer your question in the following way - both yes and no. That is, there is undoubtedly a connection, and an impact is certainly possible, as nothing in the world exists in a vacuum, and various issues are interlinked. However, at the same time, there are additional efforts and opportunities that can be pursued in the South Caucasus, even independently of the developments in and around Ukraine. We have repeatedly had the opportunity to note the readiness of the Republic of Armenia to sign the peace treaty with Azerbaijan as soon as possible, which I just mentioned, and thereby close the page of hostility in the South Caucasus. Of course, not all problems will be solved with one document, but this can be the beginning of the peace process, essentially, not the final outcome, and problems will remain that we can continue to resolve through bilateral efforts, especially since the same agreement provides for further bilateral work and mechanisms for resolving issues.

In the same way, we are also ready to bring our dialogue with Türkiye to a positive conclusion as soon as possible and establish diplomatic relations and open borders, which, by the way, both we and Türkiye have periodically declared, jointly and separately. So these processes can in some sense even get ahead of or run parallel to the events unfolding around Ukraine.

Regarding pressures or disappointments from Russia toward Armenia, you know, we pursue a policy of balancing and balanced foreign policy. We have a civic initiative being discussed in the National Assembly, which has been adopted in the first reading, implying that the Republic of Armenia should initiate, launch the process of European Union membership. We have very deep relations with the European Union, and moreover, we are developing and deepening them again today. Just two months ago, we signed a strategic partnership document of the same name with the United States. At the same time, we continue our partnership with the Russian Federation. We primarily continue and are interested in developing our relations with our immediate neighbors, Georgia and Iran. We understand that different partnerships with different countries may not be pleasing, may become causes for disappointment. Perhaps. But we try to explain that we are guided by the interests of the Republic of Armenia, and none of our partnerships are directed against a third country. Our strategic cooperation document with the Kingdom of the Netherlands is not directed against Russia, nor against Georgia, nor against Türkiye, nor against Iran, nor against any distant country. This is about deepening the relations between us and the Netherlands, that's all.