“We will make investments to strengthen Armenia’s economy and society, making them stronger and more stable in the face of shocks,” she added, while allocating funds to new electricity and renewable energy projects.
The move comes as Armenia works to sever ties with its former ally Russia, which owns much of its energy grid and infrastructure but has failed to intervene amid a worsening standoff with neighboring Azerbaijan. Having effectively suspended its membership in the Russia-led CSTO military alliance, Armenia has invited US forces to train in the country, sent aid to Ukraine, and even suggested it might try to join the European Union itself.
Von der Leyen praised “the measures taken by Armenia against the circumvention of our sanctions against Russia… This shows that the European Union and Armenia are increasingly aligned in values and interests.”
European Union foreign policy coordinator Josep Borrell said on the sidelines of Friday's meeting: “We welcome Armenia's efforts towards democracy, fighting corruption and establishing the rule of law.”
Von der Leyen has also supported Armenia's proposals for a “peace crossroads” that would make the country a transport and trade hub by opening communications with neighbors such as Turkey, as well as Azerbaijan, although she has so far rejected the plan presented by Pashinyan. The Azerbaijani government was in Baku to push To build a Russian-controlled road and railway that would pass through southern Armenia, called the Zangezur Corridor.
Azerbaijan, a major exporter of natural gas to the European Union and which has fought a series of wars with Armenia in recent years, object To the tripartite meeting held. Before the talks, von der Leyen spoke by phone with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and sought to reassure him about Brussels' ongoing cooperation on “renewable energy, transport communications, energy security, etc.”
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