On October 17, Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech during the plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France.

Referring to the EU-Armenia bilateral relations, Pashinyan stated: “I must stress that the EU has been a pivotal partner in supporting the fundamental reforms carried out by the Armenian government in recent years. In this regard, I want to highlight the significance of the Comprehensive and Extended Partnership Agreement, which stands as a cornerstone of our reform agenda and is currently in the active implementation phase”. 

He also highlighted that the EU has been running a long-term civilian mission in Armenia since February. This mission focuses on monitoring the security situation along Armenia’s state border with Azerbaijan. He emphasized that this development is a significant step that involves the EU in Armenia’s security concerns for the first time. The groundwork for this mission was established during the quadrilateral meeting in Prague on October 6, 2022.

Among others, Nikol Pashinyan also referred to Armenia’s democratic advancement, including the free, democratic, transparent elections. 

“This is what has changed in Armenia in the last 56 years. Yet democracy in Armenia has received and continues to receive strong blows, which operate in an almost exactly repeated scenario. External aggression, then the inaction of Armenia’s allies in the field of security, then the war or humanitarian situation, or the external security threat, attempts to subvert Armenia’s democracy and sovereignty, which is expressed by hybrid technologies, provoking internal instability directed by external forces,’’ he highlighted. 

Armenian PM further noted: “And nevertheless, the truth is that democracy is undergoing grave trials in Armenia, not only Armenia’s democracy but democracy in general because a number of events happening in Armenia and elsewhere around the world make us ask whether democracy is capable of ensuring security, peace, unity, welfare, and happiness. But I didn’t come here to ask, I’ve come here to give the answer, and my answer is unequivocally yes.”

Referring to the unblocking of transport communications in the region, he said that Armenia is prepared to guarantee the security of cargo, vehicles, individuals, pipelines, and power lines within its territory since achieving peace also involves the transit of pipelines and power lines. He emphasized that these solutions are crucial for Armenia, which has endured a 30-year blockade by Azerbaijan and Turkey. Furthermore, he expressed readiness to address the issue of enclaves based on the principle of reciprocity. Pashinyan emphasized Armenia’s readiness to sign a peace and relations settlement agreement with Azerbaijan by the end of the year.

Pashinyan also expressed regret over “international inaction amid ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh”. He underscored that Armenia had warned the international community about Azerbaijan's intentions since December 2022. He expressed his skepticism about the “surprise some international officials showed” regarding the depopulation of Nagorno-Karabakh since the latest developments in September.

Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to the EP follows Azerbaijan’s recapture of Nagorno-Karabakh on September 19, which led to the displacement of over 100,000 ethnic Armenians. In a resolution passed on October 5, Members of the EP (MEPs) strongly condemned the unjustified military offensive and characterized the Armenian displacement as ethnic cleansing. They called for reevaluating the EU’s relations with Azerbaijan and suggested actions such as suspending the current Memorandum of Understanding on a Strategic Partnership in the Field of Energy between the EU and Azerbaijan.