Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Ararat Mirzoyan spoke on October 13 at a panel on the EU’s enlargement prospects during the Warsaw Security Forum, titled “Half-Baked or Step-by-Step? Rethinking EU Enlargement.”
In his remarks, Foreign Minister Mirzoyan said relations between Armenia and its neighbor Turkey matured considerably and that the border could open soon. “We are trying to normalize our relations with Turkey. The border is still closed, but I think the process has now matured considerably. So much so that it is entirely possible that we could wake up tomorrow morning and see the headline ‘Armenia-Turkey border has opened’ in the news,” he said.
Mirzoyan also discussed Armenia’s relations with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, and the EU at the forum. The main points of his remarks are outlined below.
Turkey and other neighbors
Regardless of our approach toward the EU, we will continue to develop our relations under all circumstances, and we are now very close to achieving our goal.
There is another factor that is extremely important to us: Armenia’s neighbors.
Let us go through them. Azerbaijan: We have established a new peace and begun bilateral trade. We are opening our territories to one another for transportation and transit and removing obstacles to regional connectivity. However, a number of sensitive issues still remain to be resolved.
To our west lies Turkey. We are engaged in an intensive dialogue with Turkey. We are trying to normalize our relations, but the border remains closed.
To our south is Iran, with its complex regional circumstances, dynamics, and challenges. To our north are Georgia and Russia.
As for Russia, you can imagine what its potential reaction might be, given the particular nature of our relations with that country. Historically, we have had very close relations, and we continue to maintain strong ties today. However, any potential reaction from Russia needs to be managed appropriately. Nobody wants to acquire new enemies. Nor do we intend to harm any third party.
We have peace with Azerbaijan, but a few more steps remain to be taken.
We are trying to normalize our relations with Turkey. The border is still closed, but I think the process has now matured considerably. So much so that it is entirely possible that we could wake up tomorrow morning and see the headline “Armenia-Turkey border has opened” in the news.
European Union
Our relations with the European Union are deeper and closer than ever before. They encompass an unprecedentedly broad range of areas and directions. We are engaged in a dialogue on visa liberalization. The EU Mission in Armenia, which monitors the situation along the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, continues to operate in our country. More recently, we also welcomed a second mission, temporary in nature but with a permanent presence, which supports our efforts to counter hybrid threats.
Although we are not a candidate country for EU membership, we have obtained the opportunity to benefit from autonomous trade measures. The latest development is that the EU has adopted autonomous trade measures to help Armenia diversify its export markets. We have also signed an agreement with the European Union that will allow us to participate in EU missions operating in different parts of the world.
Again, despite not being a candidate for membership, we have received support under the Resilience and Growth Plan. We have also benefited from EU assistance through the European Peace Facility.
Thus, this relationship is not limited to political dialogue or support in the economic and trade spheres. Security, foreign policy, and other areas are also part of it.
Your question concerns the ultimate destination of this process. I am afraid I may disappoint you, but I think nobody knows the answer—not Armenia, not the European Union, and not its member states.
Allow me to explain the situation as it stands. In Armenia, to be completely honest, serious discussions about EU membership have only recently begun. Although we adopted a law in the spring of 2025 on launching the process of Armenia’s accession to the European Union, we have not yet held a comprehensive public debate on the issue. That is the Armenian side’s perspective.
United States
What I can say is this: in my country, and probably across the South Caucasus more broadly, the interests of the EU and the United States are not in conflict. On the contrary, they are cooperating very effectively.
As you know, the United States is playing a significant role in the South Caucasus, particularly in the process of opening transportation links between Armenia and Azerbaijan and removing obstacles to regional connectivity. This will become an important transportation and transit link between, for example, Portugal and China, and between the West and the East.
I believe the European Union and its member states will also benefit from this process. Therefore, when it comes to opening transportation links in the South Caucasus, the interests of numerous countries and centers of power are aligned.
