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Statement By Vartan Oskanian

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  • Statement By Vartan Oskanian

    STATEMENT BY VARTAN OSKANIAN

    Panorama.am
    16:28 02/10/06

    On the occasion of the signing of the joint statements on the
    conclusion of consultations on the ENP Action Plan: We welcome the
    Finnish Presidency here, in the person of my friend, Erkii Tuomioja,
    the Finnish FM, and the representative of the European Commission,
    Torben Holze, representing Benita Ferrero Waldner who called to
    say she could not be here, because of local political commitments
    in Austria. Thanks also to Ambassador Terhi Hakala whose tireless
    efforts have brought us to this day, and also want to recognize
    Ambassador Peter Semneby, the EU Special Representative to the
    South Caucasus. Although this document will be signed in November,
    in Brussels, we appreciate the delegation's coming here to Armenia,
    so that our public can share in this historic occasion.

    I would also like to thank the NGOs and civil society for their
    engagement and involvement in enhancing the content and make it more
    representative of the wishes of our society.

    Once the document is signed, we'll be able to publicly present the
    entire document. Let me just tell you that it says clearly, at the
    outset, that through this Action Plan, Armenia is invited to enter into
    intensified political, security, economic and cultural relations with
    the EU, enhanced regional and cross border co-operation and shared
    responsibility in conflict prevention and conflict resolution.

    And the document, goes on to detail each of these categories, and
    sets a 5-year time period during which each of these actions will
    take place. This is a huge opportunity for Armenia to become the
    beneficiary of a tried and true process to change what needs to be
    changed, re-enforce and confirm that which needs to be affirmed -
    in a word to strengthen the institutions of state.

    The distinction of this document, as the joint statement clearly says,
    is that it involves significant measures of economic integration
    and political cooperation. It's called an Action Plan and rightly
    so. It is not just a document of intentions, but of concrete actions
    to bring Armenia's social, political, economic systems more in line
    with Europe's since the premise is that we do in fact live in the
    same neighborhood and interact together. It opens new partnership
    perspectives in very basic fields such as science, education, culture,
    and of course in economic development.

    These reforms are extremely important for Armenia. We are where we
    are today, exactly because we made the courageous economic reforms on
    Day 1 of our independence. We knew then and we know even better today
    that reforms are our only resource, they are what will strengthen and
    empower our society. This document provides the opportunity to move
    forward with reforms in a focused, strategic way. It gives us a way
    and a means to do what we know we must do - revamp our institutions,
    retool our society, rethink our methods and assumptions. We are signing
    this on the 15th year of our independence, it will be concluded on
    the 20th year of our independence, and we will be able to mark a
    new turning point in Armenia's future as a more democratic, open and
    prosperous society.
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