According
to Report, she said this following a telephone conversation with Armenian Prime
Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
"Today
I spoke with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan about the recent restrictions
imposed by Russia on Armenia. This is nothing but economic coercion, and it is
unacceptable. By extending export restrictions on Armenian products, Moscow is
using economic relations as a weapon to exert political pressure. We know this
tactic all too well. That is why Europe firmly supports Armenia. We are
preparing a package of support measures from the EU. It includes immediate
financial assistance in the amount of more than 50 million euros. Trade
facilitation measures are also envisaged for a number of Armenian goods, in
particular products from the agri-food sector," she said.
Von der
Leyen added that the EU will continue to strengthen ties between European and
Armenian enterprises within the framework of the agreements reached at the
recent summit in Yerevan.
According
to her, further promotion of these initiatives will be discussed at the
ministerial meeting of the platform on connectivity, which will be held on June
23.
"To
ensure effective coordination in all these areas, we have agreed to establish a
joint EU-Armenia working group. This body will monitor the implementation of
all these initiatives, as well as any further measures in the future," she
added.
