Nikol Pashinyan and Donald Tusk make statements for media representatives (video)

In the presence of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, an agreement on military-technical cooperation between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Poland was signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan and the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of National Defense of Poland Władysław Kościńska-Kamiś.

Then the prime ministers of the two countries made statements for media representatives.

The statements of the prime ministers of Armenia and Poland are presented below.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk – Mr. Prime Minister, my friend, my good friend Nikol Pashinyan, we are very happy for our meeting in Warsaw today, precisely on the very day when Poland established diplomatic relations with Armenia on February 26, 1992.

I remember those days, those months, filled with anxiety, when we were establishing diplomatic relations with the states that were former Soviet states, when Poland was continuously encouraging those states that chose their independence. And that was a period when we understood very well the processes of the history of our two states and the dangers that threatened our countries.

Today I can say that Armenian-Polish relations, as well as our personal relations, have turned into friendship without any preconditions. We have similar goals. Armenians are highly valued in Poland.

I want to point out the work you have done. I know how much effort was needed to implement the political vision. You must be an example for following that political path. You must also present to the entire society that peace is extremely important. Peace is a priority. Although it is a difficult path and requires a lot of work, which is very commendable and appreciated by me. I wish the Armenian nation and you personally every success on that path.

I also want to say that it is very commendable that Armenia has taken the European path. This is a very active topic for discussions on how to expand the big family of the European Union. There was a very interesting incident when the Prime Minister of Iceland was here yesterday. A country that is from a different geographical direction and they want to organize a referendum soon. We were talking and we saw a very realistic vision of how we can open that path for the citizens of Armenia, so that it would be a practical process, a procedure. I would like to say that it is beneficial for everyone that we all work together, we get different ideas, different thoughts are expressed, but, nevertheless, we are inclined to accept all those countries that are bearers of the same values. I want to point out your efforts that Armenia is clearly following that path. We are very cautiously, but also clearly open to expanding the European Union for all those countries that choose democracy, independence, peace. I am confident that the policy you are pursuing is moving in that direction, and I would like to once again express my deep gratitude for your approach.

Minister Kościńska-Kamiś has been very involved in this security cooperation. This is evidenced by the signing of today's memorandum. We believe that the military cooperation that will be carried out in our security sector will be beneficial not only for Armenia, but for the entire region. We well acknowledge the importance of this circumstance. We know that both our countries, as well as both our prime ministers, know exactly what to do, how to do it, so that we are not alone, so that we are together and so that we can provide stable security to our countries, our peoples.

I am very grateful that you have come this long way and I am glad that your country is at the point where it is at the moment. I think we will continue our security cooperation.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan - Thank you, esteemed Mr. Prime Minister, esteemed guests, first of all, let me state that it is a great honor for me to be in Poland on an official visit. For quite a long time, there has not been a high-level, or even a top-level, visit by the Prime Minister of Armenia to Poland. I think this visit heralds and marks a new stage in our bilateral relations. But for me, Mr. Tusk, it is a special honor to receive an invitation from you and to receive such a warm welcome from you.

Today we meet you as the Prime Minister of Poland, but Armenia has very vivid memories of you and highly appreciates your activities as President of the European Council, because Armenia has always felt your support on the path of democratic reforms. And indeed, my personal experience during that time created a great reserve of trust, and I want to thank you for that, as well as for the support that Poland provides to the Republic of Armenia in various directions and areas, including within the framework of the European Union. We have felt that support.

It was very important for me and our delegation to hear your assessments, in particular, of the law on launching the process of accession to the European Union adopted in the Republic of Armenia last year, and the encouraging words that you said, indeed, give us new confidence to continue the path of democratic reforms with greater confidence, in which our primary task is to make Armenia a country in line with European and European Union standards.

I will not hide, and you know this, that democratic reforms are a very complex process. They bring with them challenges, they bring with them doubts, they bring with them accusations, and especially in today's world it is sometimes accepted or even attempted to create the impression that a democratic country means being a weak country, a democratic country means not being able to ensure and protect its own security. And I think that Poland in this regard is a very vivid example of how democracy can be combined with a strong security system, a strong economy and, of course, with strong partnerships in the international arena.

In this regard, I am pleased to note that our traditional historical ties are being supplemented by our democratic reform agenda, and I must state that we highly appreciate Poland’s support for Armenia’s democratic reforms and, of course, the peace process that is taking place in our region.

You know, when we were just announcing the path to adopting a peace strategy, and when I was presenting my vision of the peace process in Armenia in our parliament, one of the opposition deputies responded as follows, saying that I am talking about the South Caucasus as if I were talking about Europe. My response was the following: I said, are we sure that we know the history of Europe well? And Europe is an example for us in that regard, and to be honest, it is the example of Europe’s very complex, very brutal history in the peace process that ultimately led us to the conviction that, as you mentioned, peace is really the most important thing, because there are always arguments against peace. But it is very important to have and be able to rely on arguments that demonstrate the irreplaceability of peace, the irreplaceability of democracy, and the irreplaceability of freedom. And the path of freedom that Poland has taken and this process of building democracy, a democratic society, is, of course, exemplary for us.

Once again, let me thank you for the warm welcome and, of course, I look forward to seeing you at the Yerevan Summit of the European Political Community in May.