Macron: Armenia no longer perceived as Russia's ally

French President Emmanuel Macron has praised Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for steering the country toward European integration, saying that Armenia is no longer perceived as an ally of Russia.

During the European Political Community summit in Yerevan, he said, since 2018, Armenia has undergone major political changes after Pashinyan came to power, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“Let's be honest: eight years ago, no one would have come here. Eight years ago, this country was considered a de facto satellite of Russia at the negotiating table,” he noted.

Macron specifically referred to the Velvet Revolution organised by Pashinyan, which, he said, aimed to eliminate risks for the country.

The French president stated that the Armenian prime minister had shifted the country’s orientation away from Russia toward Europe, choosing the latter as the main benchmark for Armenia’s development.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov