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EU AND ARMENIA HAVE MADE REAL PROGRESS IN RELATIONS, ASHTON SAYS IN YEREVAN
ENPI Info Centre
http://enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=27094&id_type=1&lang_id=450
Nov 18 2011
The EU and Armenia have made "real progress" in developing the strength
of their relationship, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said
yesterday on a visit to Armenia, describing the relationship as based
on shared values of support for democracy, human rights and the rule
of law.
"The European Union very much wishes to see our relationships get
stronger," she said in remarks following her meeting with Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. "So we'll now be looking to how
much we can do together. This relationship is not just about money,"
she added, "it's also about the kind of cooperation and the way
in which we can work together. So for example with the free trade
agreement it will be the opportunities we offer our businesses to
collaborate. It's going to make a huge difference. The opportunities
to develop small business, to export and so on."
High Representative Ashton said she had also had the opportunity to
talk about the region and some of the challenges that Armenia faced,
"and the need to try and move forward in order that this region
can grow economically and politically, and indeed strengthen its
relationships to the European Union".
Ashton urged patience on the issue of visas, saying the process of
moving on visas and trade took a long time at the beginning, due to
the many technical issues to be resolved. She said this was often
the longest and most difficult part of the process, adding: "Once
you've done all the technical work then the process of negotiation
moves much more quickly." (ENPI Info Centre)
ENPI Info Centre
http://enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=27094&id_type=1&lang_id=450
Nov 18 2011
The EU and Armenia have made "real progress" in developing the strength
of their relationship, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said
yesterday on a visit to Armenia, describing the relationship as based
on shared values of support for democracy, human rights and the rule
of law.
"The European Union very much wishes to see our relationships get
stronger," she said in remarks following her meeting with Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian. "So we'll now be looking to how
much we can do together. This relationship is not just about money,"
she added, "it's also about the kind of cooperation and the way
in which we can work together. So for example with the free trade
agreement it will be the opportunities we offer our businesses to
collaborate. It's going to make a huge difference. The opportunities
to develop small business, to export and so on."
High Representative Ashton said she had also had the opportunity to
talk about the region and some of the challenges that Armenia faced,
"and the need to try and move forward in order that this region
can grow economically and politically, and indeed strengthen its
relationships to the European Union".
Ashton urged patience on the issue of visas, saying the process of
moving on visas and trade took a long time at the beginning, due to
the many technical issues to be resolved. She said this was often
the longest and most difficult part of the process, adding: "Once
you've done all the technical work then the process of negotiation
moves much more quickly." (ENPI Info Centre)