Belgium set to open embassies in Armenia, Moldova

Belgium has decided to open embassies in Yerevan and Chisinau.

Foreign Minister Hajja Lahbib made this decision at the suggestion of her department, according to the official website of the foreign minister.

As Caliber.Az reports with reference to the Armenian media, earlier Belgium maintained diplomatic relations with Moldova and Armenia through embassies in Bucharest and Moscow, respectively.

In a statement, the minister notes that the consequences of the situation in Ukraine require "more attention to the region", and in countries geographically close to the EU and Russia, "there are risks of destabilization."

“Moldova is a constitutionally neutral country, but it is pursuing a partnership program with NATO and wants to strengthen the Euro-Atlantic partnership. In addition, the republic has a frozen conflict in Transnistria, which is under the influence of Russia. All this dictates the need for more active work in this country, the statement said. As for Armenia, the geopolitical processes taking place here "require attention on the spot," the statement said.

The growing attention to the country and the region, which "was under strong Russian influence," fits into the European neighbourhood policy and indicates the desire to "preserve security and stability in this strategically important region," the authors of the statement also emphasize.

In addition, it is noted that Belgium is supporting European neighbourhood efforts for a peace process between Yerevan and Baku (where Belgium already has an embassy), including through a civilian EU monitoring mission in Armenia, which Brussels wants to promote.