Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by / Katharina Kroll
00:26 Antonio Costa / European Council President
00:32 Nikol Pashinyan / Armenian Prime Minister
02:31 Benyamin Poghosyan / Political analyst, APRI Armenia
03:02 Tigran Grigoryan / Analyst, Regional Center for Democracy & Security
03:48 Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President
04:21 Nikol Pashinyan / Armenian Prime Minister

Script:

For Armenia, these are historic days. More than three dozen European heads of state and government have come to Yerevan, together with EU leaders. Armenia and the European Union are moving closer. 

A political signal - to Europe, to Russia, and to Armenia too. 

+++ SOT António Costa, President of the European Council +++ 
“Today’s summit marks an important milestone in the deepening of the partnership between the European Union and Armenia.” 

+++ SOT Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia +++ 
“Just a year ago, we agreed that Armenia and the EU would move forward shoulder to shoulder. Looking back today, the progress we have made is almost unbelievable.” 
 
Armenia is located at a geopolitical crossroads - between Europe, Russia, the Middle East and Central Asia. It is landlocked, surrounded by powerful neighbors. For centuries, this has made the country vulnerable to foreign rule, conflict and geopolitical pressure. 

Even today, Armenia remains strongly shaped by its Soviet past. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is now trying to normalize relations with neighboring countries - while gradually tying Armenia more closely to Europe.  

+++ VOX POPS 

Varduhi Gasapryan: +++
“I think this is a big step for Armenia, towards positivity, towards the European ideology, which, I think, the people of Armenia are closer to that policy and need it – we need support from Russia, from all big nations.” 

+++ Laura: +++
“Specifically, for me, for the entire Armenian people, it seems to me a good thing, good new opportunities.” 

+++ Arsen Khosteghyan: +++
“We never want to be enemies of the Russian people. We want to have a good relationship with the Russian people too, for good things to happen. We've lived together for 100 years, side by side. I would like us to live well with all the nations of the world.”

For the Armenian government, this is a balancing act: a clear orientation toward the West — without alienating Russia. Agreements with the EU have been signed in different areas, including transport, energy and digitalization.  

+++ SOT Benyamin Poghosyan, Political analyst, APRI Armenia +++ 
“My understanding is that the European Union needs stability across its borders. And the South Caucasus is one of the areas where we have seen several wars in the last two years. So I think the number one benefit for the European Union is to have a more stable South Caucasus in line with European Union ideals.” 

The summits also come at a crucial time domestically. On June 7, Armenians will elect a new parliament. The meetings with EU leaders are giving Prime Minister Pashinyan political momentum. 

+++ O-TON Tigran Grigoryan, Regional Center for Democracy and Security +++ 
“Armenia has emerged as the EU's major, major partner in the South Caucasus. But apart from this geopolitical dimension, there is also the domestic dimension as well. I think that the European Union is trying to send the signal to the Armenian public that this government is the one we want to work with. It would be good if this government gets reelected.” 

Meanwhile, pressure from Russia is growing. Cyberattacks and disinformation campaigns are on the rise. The EU is sending security experts to help Armenia counter these threats. 

+++ O-TON Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission President +++ 
“Armenia also has to counter foreign information manipulation, hybrid threats and interference. Our new EU partnership mission will support you in countering these hybrid threats and disinformation. Because one thing is absolutely clear: the only legitimate source of power in this country is the Armenian people’s will.” 

While Armenia is yet to apply for EU membership, the government has shown that it wants to start the process, which would take decades. It adopted a law on launching the process in 2025.   

+++ O-TON Nikol Pashinyan, Prime Minister of Armenia +++ 
“I think this is a very good and additional incentive for us to breathe new life into democratic and, more generally, institutional reforms, to reach as quickly as possible the status of a country that meets the European Union's standards.” 

Armenia is  charting its own course, by deepening its ties with the European Union.  

END