EU to Open Visa Liberalisation Talks with Armenia

The European Union has announced it will open dialogue on visa liberalisation with Armenia, marking a significant development in Armenia's relations with the bloc. This comes as Armenia seeks to strengthen ties with the West amid deteriorating relations with Russia. Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan hailed the move as a milestone.

The European Union has announced plans to initiate dialogue on visa liberalisation with Armenia, a move hailed as a 'milestone' by Armenia's Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan. The visa talks are part of a broader strategy to fortify ties between the traditional Russian ally and the EU.

As part of the agreement, the EU is also offering 10 million euros ($10.89 million) in aid to bolster Armenia's military. This decision comes at a time when Armenia is increasingly looking towards Western countries, amid declining relations with its treaty ally, Russia.

Visa liberalisation would permit Armenians to visit the EU's Schengen Zone without requiring a visa, aligning Armenia with other post-Soviet states like Moldova, Ukraine, and Georgia. However, this visa-free access will only be granted once Armenia meets specific benchmarks, a process that could take several years according to Armenian media reports.

(With inputs from agencies.)