EU should offer Armenia path to European future: Viola von Cramon-Taubadel

Viola von Cramon-Taubadel, German member of the European Parliament, spoke at the session of the European Parliament on Armenia-EU relations.

“Article 49 of the EU Treaty states that any European country that respects our values can become a member of the EU, and Armenia is a truly European country with its own values, culture and, I'm sure, future.

We must protect Armenia’s democracy. Unfortunately, the existence of Armenia in the region is not guaranteed. Russia, standing behind Armenia, gave the green light to ethnic cleansing in Nagorno-Karabakh. The European Union should offer Armenia a path to a European future, guaranteeing security and prosperity. This will be a manifestation of historical justice.

It is not an easy road, but the first steps must be taken. Visa liberalization for free travel of Armenians, deeper economic involvement, personal and social connections must be accelerated to ensure that the next generations of Armenians reap the European benefits.

It is more important that we make it clear to the President of Azerbaijan that any encroachment on the territory of Armenia will have severe consequences. We will not allow another violent attack to reshape the European borders,” the German deputy emphasized.