FM: NATO membership not on Armenia agenda

An interview in Buenos Aires with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, the latter responded to questions also about Armenia's partnership with the European Union (EU) and NATO.

"We are a democratic country, and we want to strengthen democratic institutions [in Armenia]. We see that, for example, the United States and the European Union are the main partners. We also saw that the EU was ready to send a civilian [monitoring] mission [to Armenia], and the situation at the [Armenia-Azerbaijan] border improved considerably, their presence greatly contributes to the peace of the region and part of Armenia," Mirzoyan said.

According to the Armenian FM, Russia had sent peace guarantors in 2020 to monitor security in Nagorno-Karabakh, but there have been many Azerbaijani attacks on Armenia's border.

"The security mechanisms that we had for several decades did not work. That is why we had to ask the European Union to come and monitor the situation. Now we are deepening economic and political relations with Brussels and Washington. I wouldn't call it a turning point, we are trying to ensure our security, and for that we see that there are good partners in the West," said Mirzoyan.

According to him, it is impossible to hide the problems that Armenia has in relations with Russia.

"As for the intention to join NATO, then no. That is not the point that is on the agenda of Armenia today. In the case of the EU, I can say that Armenians really have European aspirations, and I would like to quote the words of the Prime Minister of Armenia: ‘Armenia is ready to be closer to the European Union, as much as the European Union considers it possible,’" Mirzoyan said.