AUSTRIA, February 1 - From 2^nd to 3^rd February 2022, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will travel to Armenia accompanied by an Austrian economic delegation. In addition to meetings with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, he will visit an agricultural project supported by the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and a steel mill equipped by an Austrian company. Furthermore, Foreign Minister Schallenberg and his Armenian counterpart will officially inaugurate an ADA cooperation office in Yerevan that has been active since last year.

Foreign Minister Schallenberg had already visited Yerevan last year, as part of an EU mission relating to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This time, his visit is entirely aimed at deepening the bilateral collaboration between Austria and Armenia, especially in the areas of business and development.

At that time we had a unified, clear message: full support from Austria and the European Union for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous South Caucasus region. Austria and Armenia are bound by a deep friendship. And by cultural affinity. My visit today underlines our strong desire for increased economic collaboration,

said Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.

A meeting with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan marked the start of Foreign Minister Schallenberg’s visit. Together they discussed the current Russian threat scenario along the Ukrainian border on the one hand, and the ongoing efforts to defuse the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan on the other.

To us as Central Europeans, the situation in the South Caucasus may feel very abstract; it seems very far away to most of us. But just the opposite is true: it is in our own interest to help build stability and security here. Otherwise, destabilisation and insecurity will be imported to Europe,

warned Foreign Minister Schallenberg.

Next, Schallenberg and the Director of the Austrian Development Agency, Ambassador Friedrich Stift, visited an ADA-supported agricultural project in Byurakan, 35 kilometres from Yerevan. Since 2011, Armenia has been a priority country for the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADC).

The main focus of our cooperation is on sustainable agricultural development and creating jobs and future prospects, particularly for young people,

emphasised Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg.

At the same time, he said, the inauguration of the ADA cooperation office in Yerevan on Wednesday is a “very visible and concrete sign of our ongoing Austrian commitment”.

At the end of his trip, Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg will jointly introduce the Austrian Economic Forum with Armenian Foreign Minister Mirzoyan as part of the Austrian economic initiative ReFocus Austria. The forum will give an opportunity to representatives of nearly 20 Austrian companies to meet with Armenian partners and explore cooperation opportunities. The event will be followed by a visit of a steel mill that was equipped by an Austrian company, as well as a courtesy visit to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.