EU commissioner Mart Kos makes jam from Armenian apricots

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos has said she made jam from apricots she brought back from a visit to Armenia, describing the fruit as a symbol of the country's democratic changes.

Sharing the story in a post on Facebook, the commissioner said after her official visit to Armenia last week, she returned to Brussels with a large basket of locally grown apricots, which she described as representing the changes taking place in the country, Caliber.Az reports.

"Apricots are symbolic of a shift that is taking place in Armenia. At last month’s election, the majority of Armenians voted for parties that want a closer partnership with the EU. Russia had tried to influence the vote by restricting imports of Armenian fruit and flowers. In turn, the EU helped Armenia by opening its market to many of these products," she wrote.

Kos noted that she gave some of the fruit to friends and used the rest to make jam.

"A friend looked at the jam and said, ‘Jars of freedom.’ I thought that was a beautiful way of putting it," she added.

The commissioner also encouraged Europeans to look for Armenian apricots, plums, and cherries in supermarkets, saying that doing so would help support local farmers and the country's democratic choice.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov