EU mulls aid package for Armenia to tackle refugee crisis: official

PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union is discussing the possibility of providing aid to Armenia to tackle the influx of refugees from Syria, EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said Tuesday, March 2.

According to Federica Mogherini, the issue was discussed during her current visit to Armenia.

“The Union is considering the possibility of providing assistance, particularly from EU’s Trust Fund, the aid package designed to offer solutions to this crisis,” she said.

Addressing a joint press conference with Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Mogherini stressed the need for refraining from military rhetoric and escalation on Karabakh contact line. The High Representative reaffirmed EU’s support to the establishment of mechanisms for probing border incidents and ceasefire violations.

The status quo can’t be maintained, she said.

The Armenian foreign policy chief met earlier with Mogherini and thanked EU for its continuous support to the country.

Analyzing the situation in the Middle East, Nalbandian stressed that Armenia has so far hosted around 20,000 Syrian refugees, adding that EU's possible assistance in this context would be quite appreciated.

Minister Nalbandian also briefed Mogherini on the latest developments of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

Mogherini, in turn, reaffirmed the EU's support to the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs’ efforts towards the peaceful settlement of the conflict.

At the end of the meeting, Nalbandian restated Armenia's determination to go for an exclusively peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.