High Representative Kallas, 

Dear Colleagues,

It is a great pleasure to launch together with you to the inaugural Armenia-EU Security and Defence Consultations. This milestone underscores Armenia’s unwavering commitment to deepening our partnership with the European Union and is a direct reflection of our shared commitment to peace, security and stability, and the fundamental values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. And as you know, for us, democracy is not merely a political system; it is the bedrock of our independence, the core of our resilience, and the essential pillar of our future.

Our meeting convenes at a time of intense global and regional transformations. The established security architecture faces unprecedented challenges. In this evolving landscape, Armenia is taking bold steps to diversify its security partnerships. We are moving decisively away from a single-source dependence in defence and security. Our partnership with the European Union plays a significant role in this effort, and today’s consultations are a vital component of this diversification strategy.

Armenia welcomes the EU’s expertise in supporting our efforts to build a resilient security sector that serves our citizens and strengthens public trust. We also see enormous potential for closer cooperation with European nations with deep experience in regional security. To that end, we are actively strengthening our ties with individual EU member states and forging new Strategic Partnerships.

The EU's role in Armenia's security has grown significantly in recent years. The EU Monitoring Mission has been an important stabilising factor in the region. Furthermore, we are grateful for the support extended through the European Peace Facility in 2024 and count on your continued assistance in 2025 to bolster our resilience.

A tangible result of our growing security partnership is the agreement we have signed today, establishing a framework for Armenia's participation in CSDP missions. We believe our involvement in these crisis operations will enhance interoperability between Armenian and EU institutions and bring our specialists closer together, fostering a shared culture of security.

To further deepen our cooperation and enhance the expertise of our personnel, we are eager to explore opportunities for collaboration with the European Security and Defence College. Such engagement would provide invaluable training and knowledge exchange, fostering greater understanding and synergy between our defense and security professionals.

Dear colleagues,

In an era where information is weaponised, Armenia remains resolute in its commitment to countering disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference. These malign activities pose a direct threat to our democratic society, resilience and sovereignty. We therefore welcome the EU’s growing engagement in this critical domain and are eager to align our efforts. Strengthening our cooperation on strategic communication and strengthening our societal and institutional resistance to manipulative narratives is a strategic imperative for both Armenia and the EU. We stand ready to collaborate with EU institutions and Member States to enhance media literacy, build institutional capacity, and raise public awareness.

We also see the added value of expanding cooperation in cybersecurity, countering hybrid threats, and resilience planning. Strengthening Armenia’s capacities to detect, deter, and respond to cyber and hybrid threats will further reinforce our cooperation, grounded in the principles of mutual security and strategic foresight.

I want to thank our EU colleagues for their steadfast engagement and support. We are confident that today’s consultations will foster greater trust and coordination in the defence and security domain. I wish you a productive and future-oriented dialogue that will open a new, strategic chapter in our cooperation.

Thank you.