Swiss legislator hails EU aid as commitment to stand by Armenia

YEREVAN, AUGUST 8, ARMENPRESS. Member of the National Council of Switzerland’s Federal Assembly Stefan Müller-Altermatt has described the EU Council’s decision to provide assistance to Armenia under the EPF as a “commitment by the EU to stand by Armenia militarily.”

On July 22, the EU Council adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) in support of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia worth €10 million. 

“I can hardly judge what these funds will actually achieve at an operational and technical level, and this remains to be seen,” Stefan Müller-Altermatt told Armenpress.  “But one thing is certain: this contribution is a commitment. A commitment by the EU to stand by Armenia militarily. I hope that this can also have a deterrent effect. And I also hope that this still relatively small amount will be backed up by decisions to release further funds, especially in the event of a crisis.”

He also commented on the EU decision to start visa liberalization dialogue with Armenia. The Swiss legislator said that visa liberalization will be a “symbol” for Armenia’s change of orientation away from Moscow towards Brussels.

“The freer the movement of people is, the closer relations between countries become. This is why visa liberalisation also has a high symbolic value for Yerevan. The visa liberalisation will be a kind of symbol for Yerevan's change of orientation away from Moscow towards Brussels. And conversely, it is confirmation that Brussels has understood this reorientation. Quite apart from this, it will of course also be of great benefit to the population if they can finally travel to Europe visa-free. All my Armenian friends suffer from the bureaucracy of visa requirements, “he said.