Armenia eases visa rules for EU countries

(YEREVAN) - Armenia on Thursday lifted visa requirements for EU travellers in a bid to build closer ties with the 27-nation bloc and balance Moscow's sway on the ex-Soviet state.

The unilateral action covering six-month visas also applies to the four non-EU countries of the Schengen Area -- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

"Lifting visa requirement will foster Europe's business and tourism activity in Armenia," Armenia's foreign ministry spokesman, Tigran Balayan, told AFP.

Armenia is countering strong pressure from Moscow to join a Russian-led customs union by seeking closer economic and political ties with Brussels.

EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's office said last month that Armenia's membership in the Russian-led trade club would hurt the country's chances of developing freer trade with the EU.

Analysts expect freer travel rules to benefit trade relations.