Your trusted source

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg concluded his tour of the South Caucasus on Tuesday in Yerevan, Armenia where he met with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and President Vahagn Khachaturyan.

Stoltenberg delivered the following press remarks after his meeting with Pashinyan:

"Thank you very much, Prime Minister Pashinyan, dear Nikol.

I am very glad to see you again and I am happy to be in Yerevan with you. This is my first official visit to Yerevan in the position of NATO Secretary General.

First of all, I highly appreciate your personal leadership, the fact that you clearly speak in favor of peace, you are unequivocally committed to democratic values.

Armenia has long been a NATO partner, and I welcome and appreciate your contribution to NATO missions and operations. For almost 20 years, Armenia has been one of the most important partners of the NATO peacekeeping mission, helping to guarantee a safe and secure environment for all communities living in Kosovo. And I welcome the increased participation of your servicemen in recent years.

During today's meeting, we discussed the importance of stability in the South Caucasus. This is important for Euro-Atlantic security as we face an increasingly dangerous world.

Today, Armenia and Azerbaijan have a chance to achieve lasting peace after years of conflict. This is why I call on the two countries to reach an agreement that will pave the way for normalization of relations and lasting peace for your peoples. NATO supports Armenia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and your peaceful aspirations.

Russia's war in Ukraine is a sobering reminder that we cannot help but value peace. I applaud your solidarity with Ukraine and call on all partners to do everything in their power to prevent Putin from winning his war of aggression. The situation on the battlefield remains critical, but this is precisely why our support should be increased, not decreased. If Putin succeeds in Ukraine, there is a real risk that his aggression will not stop there, and that other authoritarian entities will be inspired by it.

Today we also talked about the progress of Armenia's domestic reforms. I welcomed the fact that you are working to strengthen democratic control over your armed forces, including through your participation in NATO's Building Integrity Programme. You have also shown real commitment to fighting corruption, strengthening your democratic institutions and upholding the rule of law.

Dear Prime Minister,

Thank you again for hosting me warmly and for your wefforts to build a brighter future for your country and region. I sincerely hope that we will continue to strengthen our partnership, working together for greater peace, stability and prosperity in the South Caucasus and beyond. Thank you."