As we welcome the New Year, I want to express my sincere wishes to Armenia and its bright people.

We leave another challenging year behind us.

A year full of our efforts to bring peace to the region, but we are aware that there is still some way to go.

A year when we continued our work with partners to ensure economic development and security, and support Armenia’s democracy, reforms and well-being under challenging circumstances.

This year we saw the establishment of the presence of the European Union Mission in Armenia.

This civilian mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy of the European Union operating on the Armenian side of the border with Azerbaijan continues to observe the security situation and to contribute to human security and confidence-building in the region.

The EU provided important humanitarian assistance to help overcome the consequences of war and displacement.

We rapidly responded to the urgent needs of the Armenians who fled Nagorno-Karabakh after 19 September, and we continue to do so.

The European Union and its member states provided more than 50 million Euros to cater to their needs.

I want also to commend the work of the Armenian authorities to support and integrate the displaced persons.

We are also working on the ground in Syunik to strengthen the region’s resilience and potential, investing in education, economic development and infrastructure.

In a true team Europe spirit more than 110 million Euros are being invested in the region by the European Union and its member states and partners.

Armenia and the EU are bound by shared political values and our commitment to a rules-based international order. We are currently exploring possibilities to deepen and strengthen our relations in all their dimensions.

We will notably upgrade cooperation in the area of security and we will strengthen our work on the economy under the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement offering new opportunities to Armenian citizens and companies.

Investments in infrastructure, human capital and the green and digital transition under our Economic and Investment plan will also accelerate, to strengthen connectivity and competiveness.

The EU-Armenia Investment Coordination Platform we already launched will help to that.

Dear people of Armenia,

The EU stands shoulder-to-shoulder with you.

We daily demonstrate the solidarity of the citizens of the EU to Armenia and its people.

We support reforms and investments.

We support the creativity and talent of the Armenian people.

Let the New Year get us better, stronger, and strengthen our resolve for a better future in a peaceful and prosperous region.

Thank you.