Tweet
COMMISSIONER: EU-ARMENIA RELATIONS MAKING PROGRESS ACROSS THE BOARD
ENPI Info Centre
http://enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=27184&id_type=1&lang_id=450
Nov 25 2011
EU-Armenia relations are making progress across the board, European
Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood PolicyStefan Fule
said today after the meeting of the Cooperation Council between the
European Union and the Republic of Armenia.
"Our political and economic ties our strengthening as we speak,"Fule
told a press conference after the meeting, "talks on the association
Agreement are progressing well, we are ready to engage on negotiations
for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Armenia once we have
seen sufficient progress in the implementation of European Commission
key recommendations, and the European Union has noted the good progress
made in this respect."
The Commissioner added: "We are very pleased to see new and ambitious
reform efforts from Armenia, bringing together the most important
priorities of the EU-Armenia relationship."
The Armenian delegation was led byForeign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
A statement issued after the meeting said the Cooperation Council
had underlined the need to remain focussed on and speed up the
implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy action plan, adding
the meeting had provided a good opportunity to review recent political
and economic reforms in Armenia. "In this context the Cooperation
Council took note of the new and ambitious reform efforts of Armenia,
bringing together important priorities of EU-Armenia relations,
including preparations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area,
cooperation in the domain of justice, liberty and security as well
as democratic reforms. The EU confirmed its readiness to engage with
Armenia in an EU-Armenia partnership for reform."
The EU recalled the importance of continuing progress on the matters
of democracy, rule of law and human rights, and encouraged Armenia
to step up reforms in these fields. The statement added that the
EU noted progress in the situation of human rights and fundamental
freedoms in Armenia and underlined that these elements are essential
components in the bilateral relationship and in the framework of the
Eastern Partnership.
The EU also confirmed that negotiations on agreements on visa
facilitation and readmission are expected to start at the beginning of
next year. The EU also welcomed the signing by Armenia, on 27 October,
of a mobility partnership with the EU, as an important step towards
the strengthening of people-to- people contacts.
The Cooperation Council also reviewed progress on the settlement of
the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict, with EU reaffirming that the status
quo was unacceptable and that the solution of this conflict remains
a top priority. The EU expressed concern at the increasing number of
incidents at the line of contact and called on all sides to reduce
tension and abstain from strong rhetoric.
The meeting took place following the recent visit of EU High
Representative Catherine Ashton to Yerevan on16-17 November, which
confirmed the EU's commitment to reinforcing links with the region.
From: Baghdasarian
ENPI Info Centre
http://enpi-info.eu/maineast.php?id=27184&id_type=1&lang_id=450
Nov 25 2011
EU-Armenia relations are making progress across the board, European
Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood PolicyStefan Fule
said today after the meeting of the Cooperation Council between the
European Union and the Republic of Armenia.
"Our political and economic ties our strengthening as we speak,"Fule
told a press conference after the meeting, "talks on the association
Agreement are progressing well, we are ready to engage on negotiations
for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Armenia once we have
seen sufficient progress in the implementation of European Commission
key recommendations, and the European Union has noted the good progress
made in this respect."
The Commissioner added: "We are very pleased to see new and ambitious
reform efforts from Armenia, bringing together the most important
priorities of the EU-Armenia relationship."
The Armenian delegation was led byForeign Minister Edward Nalbandian.
A statement issued after the meeting said the Cooperation Council
had underlined the need to remain focussed on and speed up the
implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy action plan, adding
the meeting had provided a good opportunity to review recent political
and economic reforms in Armenia. "In this context the Cooperation
Council took note of the new and ambitious reform efforts of Armenia,
bringing together important priorities of EU-Armenia relations,
including preparations for a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area,
cooperation in the domain of justice, liberty and security as well
as democratic reforms. The EU confirmed its readiness to engage with
Armenia in an EU-Armenia partnership for reform."
The EU recalled the importance of continuing progress on the matters
of democracy, rule of law and human rights, and encouraged Armenia
to step up reforms in these fields. The statement added that the
EU noted progress in the situation of human rights and fundamental
freedoms in Armenia and underlined that these elements are essential
components in the bilateral relationship and in the framework of the
Eastern Partnership.
The EU also confirmed that negotiations on agreements on visa
facilitation and readmission are expected to start at the beginning of
next year. The EU also welcomed the signing by Armenia, on 27 October,
of a mobility partnership with the EU, as an important step towards
the strengthening of people-to- people contacts.
The Cooperation Council also reviewed progress on the settlement of
the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict, with EU reaffirming that the status
quo was unacceptable and that the solution of this conflict remains
a top priority. The EU expressed concern at the increasing number of
incidents at the line of contact and called on all sides to reduce
tension and abstain from strong rhetoric.
The meeting took place following the recent visit of EU High
Representative Catherine Ashton to Yerevan on16-17 November, which
confirmed the EU's commitment to reinforcing links with the region.
From: Baghdasarian