Former NATO chief Rasmussen lauds Pashinyan’s courage in agreeing Azerbaijan peace deal

Anders Fogh Rasmussen, former Secretary General of NATO and founder of Rasmussen Global, has welcomed the agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the peace deal. 

Speaking at a press conference in Ijevan, Armenia, Rasmussen, a former Danish Prime Minister who led NATO from 2009 to 2014, praised Armenian Prime Minister for his courage in agreeing to the peace deal.

He said that Rasmussen Global helps Armenia expand and organize its international relations.

“Today in Ijevan I met with representatives of the EU monitoring mission in Armenia, and tomorrow I will meet with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan,” he said.

Rasmussen said he would want to see peace in the South Caucasus.

“I welcome the achievement of an agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan around the peace agreement and I think that Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan displayed great courage by agreeing to that document,” Rasmussen said.

He expressed hope for stronger ties between Armenia and the EU.

“Armenia is a democratic sprout trying to grow in a highly difficult neighborhood. That’s why I want the EU to strengthen its support for Armenia’s democracy,” he said.

The former NATO chief also endorsed Armenia’s Crossroads of Peace project.

“If that initiative is implemented it will contribute to the development of regional trade and multilateral cooperation. And this is why I would want the EU to support the construction of roads, railway and other infrastructures,” he said.

The region will achieve prosperity in case of ensuring Armenia’s connection with Turkiye and Azerbaijan, he added.