The European Union announces 270 million euros of aid to Armenia, a former ally of Russia

First modification: 04/06/2024 – 00:19

4 min

Once an ally of Moscow, now supported by Brussels and Washington, Armenia is moving a little further away from Russian influence: the European Union is going to grant it aid of 270 million euros. The announcement was made on Friday, April 5, by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

“We are putting into practice a promise made in October” with this “growth plan” for Armenia of 270 million euros in the form of loans over four years, Von der Leyen told the press in the presence of the Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinian; as well as the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell.

For Armenia to “take its place”

This aid program is added to a European investment plan for this Caucasian country that has already “mobilized more than 500 million euros,” added Ursula von der Leyen.

“We want Armenia to take its place as a strong, independent nation, at peace with its neighbors and connected to the world,” declared Antony Blinken. “Both the United States and the European Union want to be partners in this effort,” he stressed, adding that Washington would provide $65 million in aid to Armenia.

This meeting in Brussels “means that Armenians are increasing their partnership with the United States and the European Union (EU),” Nikol Pashinian declared with satisfaction.

Before the Brussels talks, Antony Blinken and Ursula von der Leyen had spoken by phone on Wednesday with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliev to try to ease tensions. Aliev declared on Friday that the Brussels summit was “directed against Azerbaijan” and was contrary to cooperation in the region.

“Senior American and European officials have tried to convince us that the Brussels meeting is not directed against Azerbaijan, but is creating a new source of tension in the South Caucasus,” he declared.

Azerbaijan “excluded”, according to its Turkish ally

Armenia's long-standing ties with Russia have weakened since Azerbaijan, its historic enemy, seized the Armenian enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh last September.

On Thursday, Nikol Pashinian called on his fellow citizens to debate the possibility of joining the European Union.

He said Friday's meeting in Brussels was evidence of his country's “growing partnership” with the EU and the United States.

“I believe that our shared vision of a democratic, peaceful and prosperous future will continue to be the backbone and guideline of our relationship of mutual trust,” he said.

Nikol Pashinian declared at the Brussels meeting that he remained “committed to normalizing relations with Azerbaijan.”

Turkey, Azerbaijan's main supporter, warned that Armenia's negotiations with the United States and the EU “undermine the neutral approach that should be the basis for resolving the region's complex problems.”

“This initiative, which excludes Azerbaijan, will pave the way for the South Caucasus to become a zone of geopolitical confrontation, instead of serving peace,” declared the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Yerevan is increasingly moving closer to the West and accuses Russia, its traditional ally, of abandoning it in the face of its powerful Azerbaijani rival.

Armenia and Azerbaijan fought two wars, in the 1990s and in 2020, over control of the Nagorno-Karabakh region.

In recent months, several rounds of negotiations have failed to produce results. The situation remains unstable and armed incidents occur periodically. Armenia and Azerbaijan often accuse each other of deadly shootings on their border.

With AFP

*Adapted from its original in French