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Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said he does not view recent statements by Turkey and the European Union regarding Armenia's peace policy and upcoming elections as interference in the country’s internal affairs.
Speaking during a parliament–cabinet question-and-answer session, Mirzoyan said the EU’s High Representative had expressed support for democratic processes and elections in Armenia."I think, it is not a problematic in any way, we can only welcome and express gratitude," he said.
Commenting on statement by Turkey’s foreign minister, Mirzoyan said they reflected Ankara’s position in support of the peace process in the South Caucasus and of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's role in efforts to normalize relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. He added that the statement was an encouragement addressed to both sides to continue the process and further institutionalize it.
Mirzoyan said he saw no grounds to describe those statements as a way of meddling in Armenia’s internal affairs.
Referring to opposition criticism, he said labeling those messages as interference was “a matter of taste”.
Mirzoyan said the reaction of some opposition circles and media outlets under their overt or covert influence reflects differences in foreign-policy perception. He noted that when the EU expresses support for democracy in Armenia, these forces describe it as interference in internal affairs, and when Turkey welcomes the peace process and Prime Minister Pashinyan’s role in it, they make the same claim.
He that these views are a matter of taste and should not be regarded as attempts to interfere in Armenia’s internal affairs.