Եվրախորհրդարանում առաջին անգամ նշվեց ՀՀ անկախությանը նվիրված երեկոն

10 նոյեմբերի, 2026

Նոյեմբերի 10-ին Եվրախորհրդարանում՝ ԵՄ-ում ՀՀ ներկայացուցչության և Արտաքին հարցերով հանձնաժողովում Հայաստանի հարցերով մշտական զեկուցող Միրիամ Լեքսմանի գրասենյակի համատեղ նախաձեռնությամբ, առաջին անգամ անցկացվեց Հայաստանի Հանրապետության անկախության 35-ամյակին նվիրված ընդունելությունը։

Միջոցառմանը բացման խոսքով հանդես եկավ ԵԽ պատգամավոր Մ․ Լեքսմանը՝ իր ելույթում առանձնահատուկ ընդգծելով ՀՀ-ԵՄ հետզհետե խորացող գործընկերության նշանակությունը և Եվրախորհրդարանի աճող հետաքրքրությունը Հայաստանին առնչվող հարցերի նկատմամբ։ Նա շեշտեց, որ վերջին տարիներին Հայաստանին աջակցությունը դարձել է Եվրախորհրդարանի օրակարգի առաջնահերթություններից։

ՀՀ դեսպան Տ․ Բալայանը երախտագիտություն հայտնեց պատգամավորներին՝ Հայաստանին ցուցաբերվող մշտական աջակցության, կնճռոտ խնդիրները հասցեագրելու և ցուցաբերած հետևողականության համար։ Դեսպանը շեշտադրեց երկկողմ հարաբերությունների հագեցած օրակարգի, բարձրաստիճան փոխայցերի և ժողովրդավարական արժեքների պաշտպանության առանցքային դերը։

Անդրադառնալով համատեղ ձեռքբերումներին՝ Տ․ Բալայանը բարձր գնահատեց ԵԽ պատգամավորների գրասենյակների արդյունավետ աշխատանքը, որի շնորհիվ կայացվում են Հայաստանի համար շոշափելի փոփոխություններ ապահովող որոշումներ։ Որպես վառ օրինակ՝ Տ․ Բալայանը մատնանշեց ԵԽ-ի կողմից պարզեցված ընթացակարգով վերջերս ընդունված՝ ՀՀ-ին ինքնավար առևտրային արտոնություններ տրամադրելու որոշումը։

Այնուհետև դեսպան Բալայանը համապարփակ ներկայացրեց ՀՀ արտաքին քաղաքական գերակայությունները՝ այդ համատեքստում առանձնացնելով ԵՄ-ի դերակատարումն ու հանձնառությունները, որոնք շարժիչ ուժ են հանդիսանում ոլորտային համագործակցության խորացման, ինստիտուցիոնալ բարեփոխումների իրականացման և տարածաշրջանում կայուն խաղաղության հաստատման գործընթացում։

Երեկոն առանձնահատուկ էր նրանով, որ մեկ հարկի տակ էր համախմբել Եվրախորհրդարանի բոլոր խմբակցությունների հեղինակավոր պատգամավորներին՝ միջոցառմանը հաղորդելով առավել ջերմ ու անմիջական մթնոլորտ։

***

Dear Members of the European Parliament,

Dear Members of the Secretariat,

Dear colleagues and friends,

Let me begin by expressing my sincere and warmest gratitude to a great friend of Armenia and, as it happens, our Standing Rapporteur on Armenia, Miriam Lexmann, for co-hosting this evening and bringing us together to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia here, in the very temple of European democracy.

My particular thanks also go to Ms Glinski, Head of Protocol, Mr. Ziga Faktor, Mr. Simon Petriska and to all those who have worked behind the scenes to make this evening possible.

The European Parliament has been, and remains, at the heart and forefront of the rapprochement between Armenia and the European Union.

There has hardly been an issue of importance to Armenia that has not been discussed, debated and addressed within this institution. Through your debates, resolutions, reports and political engagement, you have helped shape European policy towards Armenia and the wider region. You have given political substance to our partnership and, on many occasions, helped turn aspirations into concrete action.

Dear friends of Armenia,

My personal engagement with this noble institution began in September 2023-a particularly dramatic and painful period for me personally, for Armenian statehood and, above all, for the Armenian people.

Since then, I have had the privilege of witnessing first-hand the empathy, solidarity and genuine friendship of so many Members of this House.

Throughout these years, with every parliamentary question addressed to the European Commission, every statement, every tweet, every debate and every resolution adopted, you have reinforced our belief that the values and principles upon which European civilisation is built are not merely words. They matter. They have meaning. And they translate into solidarity and action when it matters most.

You have encouraged me, and thousands of like-minded people in Armenia and throughout the Armenian Diaspora, to believe that Armenia is not alone.

I will never forget that feeling.

Your continued and unwavering commitment to the noble cause of securing the liberation and return of Armenian citizens illegally held in Azerbaijan, is yet another powerful demonstration of your commitment to human rights, human dignity and justice. It has strengthened my conviction that, through perseverance, solidarity and our common determination, we will succeed.

The European Parliament’s support for so many important initiatives- the European Union Mission in Armenia, assistance through the European Peace Facility, the launch of the visa liberalisation dialogue, the European Partnership Mission in Armenia, and the Autonomous Trade Measures for Made in Armenia products- represents only the tip of the iceberg of your deep and comprehensive engagement with Armenia.

These are not simply institutional decisions or political initiatives. They are tangible expressions of Europe’s commitment to Armenia’s future and of the confidence that our country can become an increasingly close partner of the European Union.

And I sincerely hope that, when we look back a few years from now, we will see today’s achievements as merely the beginning of a much more ambitious chapter in Armenia-EU relations.

The greater part of my life and professional engagement over the past three years has been devoted to bringing Armenia and the European Union closer together- or, to put it without diplomatic euphemisms, to advancing Armenia’s European integration.

I believe that the historic achievements we have witnessed and the milestones we have reached speak for themselves. They demonstrate how far we have come and, more importantly, how much more we can achieve together.

There is a saying that in every art and every craft, a master has a distinctive signature, a recognisable style. Diplomacy is no exception. If I were to describe my own diplomatic signature, I would say that it has been the pursuit of solutions to even the most complex challenges through parliamentary diplomacy.

To quote a classic: I did it my way: Throughout my four Ambassadorial assignments, engagement with parliaments has been a cornerstone of my work. I have always believed that parliaments are not merely legislative institutions; they are places where political will is shaped, trust is built, difficult questions can be addressed and, ultimately, bridges between nations are constructed.

Our cooperation with the European Parliament has gained considerable momentum in recent years. These years have been marked by two historic addresses by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to the European Parliament, the unveiling of the “Armatagir: The Power of Roots” sculpture in the European Parliament’s courtyard, Armenia’s integration into the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG), numerous meetings and hearings within the framework of the Parliamentary Partnership Committee (PPC) and the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, as well as several visits to Armenia.

We have also closely followed the European Parliament’s reports on Armenia, working together to address the challenges identified and overcome existing barriers. These milestones are not an end in themselves, but rather the beginning of a deeper and more ambitious chapter in our relations. I am confident that the political dialogue, institutional cooperation and mutual engagement we have built will continue to grow and deepen in the years ahead.

The European Parliament has been an especially important part of this journey. I am therefore deeply grateful to this institution, to my colleagues and, above all, to the many friends I have made here. Your friendship and partnership have not only contributed to Armenia’s European journey; they have also shaped my own professional and personal experience.

Chers amis,

As some of you are aware, I am approaching the end of my mandate as Ambassador of Armenia and will be returning to Yerevan soon.

I will be leaving Brussels with a profound sense of gratitude, satisfaction and, I must admit, a certain emotion. As many of you know, my term as Ambassador of Armenia is drawing to a close, and I will soon return to Yerevan.

I depart Brussels filled with deep gratitude, a sense of fulfillment, and, admittedly, a touch of emotion. While I take pride in all that we have accomplished together, I am most thankful for the trust, genuine friendships, and solidarity that have enriched this shared path.

Without any diplomatic pretense, I can say that much of what we realized would have been impossible without your support, constant encouragement, and readiness to stand alongside Armenia. For this, you have my lasting appreciation.

My departure from Brussels by no means marks the end of our collaboration. On the contrary, though I am returning to Armenia, the partnerships and friendships established here remain intact. Whatever role or capacity I assume next, I remain fully committed to deepening Armenia’s integration with the European Union and building stronger bridges between our institutions, societies, and citizens.

Finally, I kindly ask that you extend the same warmth, openness, and goodwill to my successor as you have so generously offered me. I hope you will welcome him not simply as another Ambassador, but as a trusted partner and friend- someone with whom you can collaborate to achieve even greater goals for Europe and Armenia alike.

And I want each of you to know one thing: you will always have a friend and a private guide in Armenia.

The same Tigran you have come to know over these years- someone who values your friendship, appreciates your support and will always be happy to hear from you.

Indeed, one of my greatest pleasures will be to receive a message from you announcing your next visit to Yerevan. And, of course, you can rest assured that I will also keep you informed of my own visits to Brussels and will not hesitate to request your time and engagement in my new capacities!

So, let us not treat this evening as a farewell. Let us consider it a celebration of a friendship that will continue beyond diplomatic mandates, institutional positions and geographical distances.

Because the Armenia-Europe relationship is bigger than any one of us, and the friendships forged in the service of that relationship are meant to last.

Long live the friendship between Armenia and the European Union!

Vive l’amitié entre l’Arménie et l’Union européenne !

Կեցցե ազատ և անկախ Հայաստանի Հանրապետությունը։

Thank you very much.

ՀՀ ԱԳՆ
պաշտոնական կայք

Երկքաղաքացիություն

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