Wednesday, July 19 2023 13:16

ArmInfo.On July 18, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan, who is  in Vienna on a working visit, met with Alexander Schallenberg, the Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of Austria.

The meeting commenced with tete-a-tete and then continued in an  expanded format with the participation of the delegations of two  countries.

Ministers signed the Protocol on the implementation of the Armenia-EU  readmission agreement between Armenia and Austria.

At the end of the meeting, Ararat Mirzoyan and Alexander Schallenberg  held a joint press conference.

Below is an official report by the Federal Ministry of European and  International Affairs of Austria:  

"Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg welcomed the Armenian  Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in Vienna on 18 July 2023. The  occasion of the meeting was the signing of the implementation  protocol on the readmission agreement between Armenia and the EU.  Additionally, the regional security situation in the South Caucasus  was at the center of their discussions.

"The signing of the implementation protocol on the readmission  agreement is an important step that further underscores the already  strong relations between the two countries. The changing migration  routes and countries of origin in recent years have demonstrated the  importance of establishing a solid framework for readmissions before  issues arise.

"With this implementation protocol, we have a clear roadmap, clear  guidelines, and standards for how we proceed. Not that there is a  problem between Armenia and Austria, but it is a topic of great  importance to us. Austria receives a high number of asylum seekers,  and without readmissions, there can be no functioning European  migration system, explains Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg,  emphasizing the significance of the agreement.

"During the working meeting, the two foreign ministers also exchanged  views on regional security, particularly the conflict in  Nagorno-Karabakh. Recently, there have been talks mediated by the EU  and the United States between Armenia and Azerbaijan that have raised  hopes for an easing of tensions. Austria has previously advocated  strongly for a civilian EU mission in Armenia to support the path  towards stability and security. Despite the rightful focus on  Ukraine, other potential hotspots must not be overlooked.

"'I am grateful for the strong commitment of the EU and the talks in  Washington. It is going in the right direction and I hope that one  day there will be a sustainable peace agreement. However, there are  still many open questions that need to be discussed. Among them,  there is a humanitarian concern that greatly worries us - the  blockade of the Lachin corridor. This blockade must end!' states  Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg after the meeting.

"Furthermore, the relations between Armenia and other neighbouring  countries, particularly Russia and Turkey, were also addressed.  Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg expressed significant concern  regarding Russia's growing influence in Armenia. He also emphasized  that Vienna is of course available as a venue for talks on the  normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey. Vienna has  proven itself in the past as a center for dialogue and diplomacy.  Additionally, Foreign Minister Schallenberg highlighted the important  role of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe  (OSCE), based in Vienna, in relation to security in the Caucasus and  beyond."