German president welcomes Armenia's pro-EU shift in 'historic' visit

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Monday promised to support Armenia's strategic shift towards the European Union on a visit described by his Armenian counterpart as "historic."

Steinmeier was welcomed with military honours by Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan in the capital Yerevan.

Khachaturyan called the trip a "historic day," as Steinmeier became the first German president to conduct an official visit to the Caucasian country.

The talks in Yerevan are intended to encourage Armenia's increasing openness to the West.

Despite its long-standing ties with Russia, the country signed a deal on strategic cooperation with the United States in January, and its parliament adopted a bill in February to start the process leading to EU accession.

At a press conference, Steinmeier said "Germany would like to do its part to ensure that Armenia can succeed on this path."

Khachaturyan said Armenians "just want to become members of the European Union."

"I do not think that you could find a single person in Armenia who is against this," he added.

The president said that his country is aware that the path to accession is long. "It is a process that cannot be carried out from one day to the next."

Unlike other countries such as Ukraine and Moldova, Armenia is not yet an official candidate for EU accession.

The two leaders further discussed the expansion of economic ties between Germany and Armenia, with Steinmeier praising Yerevan's "ambitious reform programme."

Talks also focused on a peace treaty to end years of war between Armenia and its neighbour Azerbaijan.

The long-frozen conflict over the disputed region of Nagorno-Karabakh first broke out after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and reignited in recent years.

In September 2023, Azerbaijani forces regained control of the region, with more than 100,000 ethnic Armenians fleeing in response.

The two countries announced earlier this month they had agreed a draft peace deal, but the treaty is yet to be signed.

Steinmeier said the two countries could "set an example for the rest of the world by bringing an end to a conflict with a peace agreement."

Khachaturian assured him that his country was working hard to sign the agreement. "The difficulties that still exist can be overcome," he stated.

The German president is set to visit Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, on Wednesday as he calls on the warring parties to finalize the peace process.

"We expect this treaty to be signed, ratified and implemented quickly," Steinmeier said.