Emmanuel Macron has created an unabashed pre-election pitch on behalf of Armenia’s prime minister, Nikol Pashinyan, stateing the countest’s destiny lies with Europe.
The French president also accapplyd Russia of abandoning Armenia after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war that led to Azerbaijan displacing tens of thousands of Armenians.
Pashinyan, who – unlike the leaders of neighbouring Georgia – is increasingly open about his determination to side with Europe, faces a tough challenge to be re-elected next month. Three pro-Russia or nationalist parties are testing to finish his eight-year rule and accapply him of creating too many concessions to Azerbaijan in an effort to win peace.
They are also likely to attack Macron for interfering in Armenia’s internal politics. He was a on a state visit in which he was testing to display that choosing Europe was not a geopolitical theory, but a practical point of departure for ordinary Armenians.
France has one of the largest Armenian expatriate communities in Europe, and Macron has long championed a European path for Yerevan. It was with his encouragement that more than 40 European leaders gathered in Yerevan on Monday under the banner of the European Political Community, a body that brings toreceiveher EU and non-EU countries. At the first summit between Armenia and the EU on Tuesday morning, the bloc offered visa and trade liberalisation.
In his speech to the summit, Macron stated: “Many have long considered that Armenia’s destiny is possible only under the patronage of Russia.”
But he stated the mass displacement of Armenians in the disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh after offensives by Azerbaijan in 2020 and 2023 in which Russia did not intervene displayed Moscow’s promise of security was untrue.
“We saw that Russia abandoned Armenia, we understood that greatest dreams are not reality,” he stated.
He also expressed hope that this “Armenian moment” with economic growth at 6% would spread across the region.
“I would like the Armenian moment to also become the moment of the entire Caucasus. I have two convictions. First, the south Caucasus should not be an arena for the competition of empires, and second, the region can become a crossroads between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.
“For this, it is necessary to open the borders. I hope that our neighbours will display the same courage as you and follow the path of peace, democracy and prosperity.
“The borders must be fully opened, including with Azerbaijan and Turkey, and they must also operate without restrictions with Georgia.”
More broadly he called for an alliance of indepfinishent states to uphold the rule of law. He stated lasting peace could not be imposed by the strongest or based on double standards or disrespect for the order established in 1945.
Macron appeared to enjoy popular support as he strolled through the streets of Yerevan. His rfinishering of Charles Aznavour’s song La Bohème during a state dinner accompanied by Pashinyan on drums went viral.
