What can the EPC summit in Armenia achieve?
More than 40 leaders convened at the European Political Community (EPC) summit in the Armenian capital of Yerevan on Monday and Tuesday to discuss the future of Europe in light of the wars in Iran and Ukraine. With the looming prospect of US troops withdrawing from Germany, there was a general agreement that the continent needs to take more responsibility for its own security.
Support for shift away from Moscow
Not this summit, but the upcoming Armenian elections are what counts, argues political analyst Arkady Dubnov on Facebook:
“At this stage, it's still too early to say whether Armenia will cease to be an ally of Russia, but it is hard to deny that Yerevan is increasingly distancing itself from Moscow. What is clear, however, is that the European presence in Yerevan is intended to provide Prime Minister Pashinyan with strong support in his preparations for the parliamentary elections on 7 June. If his Civic Contract party succeeds in defeating the pro-Russian opposition, the path towards European integration will continue, and the distance from Russia will grow.”
Big talk with little substance
The taz sees a lack of strategic depth:
“Every European step inside Armenia is seen as a provocation, every move towards the West as a move away from Russia. Prime Minister Pashinyan wants to turn this to his advantage. In the run-up to the parliamentary elections on 7 June he will play the pro-European reformist and promoter of peace. But it's a risky gamble: he faces domestic instability if he loses – and in terms of foreign policy, potentially the next war. ... Europe is stepping up its presence but has no strategy. ... That is the uncomfortable truth behind the images from Yerevan. Diplomacy comes and goes, but the risks remain.”
Rapprochement between Yerevan and Ankara
T24 takes a closer look at Armenian-Turkish relations:
“The visit of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, the first meeting at this level since 2008, removed the word 'normalisation' from the realm of rhetoric and placed it back in the zone of real possibility. ... An open border could turn this region into a transit zone. By creating mutual dependencies, economics often succeeds where politics fails. This dependence will become one of the most tangible guarantees for peace. ... But the situation is fragile: the mood at home, historical memory and regional tensions could obstruct the process at any moment.”