EU top diplomat’s Armenia trip is sign of commitment, says Swiss legislator

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas’ recent trip to Armenia is a sign of Brussels’ commitment to supporting the country, according to Stefan Müller-Altermatt, a member of the National Council of Switzerland’s Federal Assembly.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas visited Armenia in late June.

“Kaja Kallas’ visit must be viewed as a sign of commitment. It reflects the EU’s intention to support Armenia as a partner in the Caucasus. This hasn’t always been the case—just a few years ago, the EU was actively courting Baku under pressure to secure its energy supplies,” the Swiss legislator told Armenpress.

Despite Armenia’s deepening partnership with the EU, Müller-Altermatt said the country’s ties with Russia would remain more significant in economic terms in the medium and long term.

“Armenia has received a signal from the EU, which is commendable within the Western values community. However, from a mid- and long-term economic perspective, relations with Russia will likely be more important. Undoubtedly, this will lead to ongoing discussions about the Armenia-EU relations. Still, even the EU cannot ignore geography and must acknowledge that Armenia needs close economic ties with Russia,” the Swiss MP said.

During the visit, the EU and Armenia announced a political agreement on a new partnership agenda.