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Targeted News Service
November 25, 2011 Friday 10:58 AM EST
EU - Armenia Cooperation Council Twelfth meeting, Brussels, 25 November 2011
BRUSSELS
The European Union's European Council issued the following news release:
The Cooperation Council between the European Union and the Republic of
Armenia held its twelfth meeting on Friday 25 November 2011. The EU
was represented by Mr Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, State Secretary for
European Affairs of Poland, acting on behalf of the High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Catherine Ashton, and Mr Stefan Fule, Commissioner for Enlargement and
European Neighbourhood -Policy. The Armenian delegation was led by Mr
Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia, acting as chair of the Cooperation Council meeting.
This meeting took place following the recent visit of HRVP Ashton to
Yerevan on 16-17 November which confirmed the EU's commitment to
reinforcing links with the region. The Cooperation Council reviewed
progress on the settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict. The EU
reaffirmed that the status quo is unacceptable and that the solution
of this conflict remains a top priority.
Both sides reiterated their support to the efforts deployed by the
OSCE Minsk Group. The EU confirmed its determination to strengthen its
support to and co-operation with the Minsk Group, notably through
further confidence building measures. 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 Cooperation Council underlined the need to remain focussed on and
speed up the implementation of the European neighbourhood policy
action plan. The Cooperation Council provided a good opportunity to
take stock of latest developments in the South Caucasus, as well as 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. In view of the deepening
bilateral relations between the EU and Armenia in the framework of the
Eastern Partnership, the EU encouraged Armenia to step up reforms in
these fields.
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 reaffirmed its readiness to continue its support for the
further development of democratic institutions in Armenia.
The two sides expressed satisfaction with the on-going negotiations on
the Association Agreement. The EU confirmed that negotiations on a
deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA) would start as soon as
Armenia meets the necessary conditions, as set out in the Commission's
"Key recommendations". 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-topeople contacts.
November 25, 2011 Friday 10:58 AM EST
EU - Armenia Cooperation Council Twelfth meeting, Brussels, 25 November 2011
BRUSSELS
The European Union's European Council issued the following news release:
The Cooperation Council between the European Union and the Republic of
Armenia held its twelfth meeting on Friday 25 November 2011. The EU
was represented by Mr Mikolaj Dowgielewicz, State Secretary for
European Affairs of Poland, acting on behalf of the High
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Catherine Ashton, and Mr Stefan Fule, Commissioner for Enlargement and
European Neighbourhood -Policy. The Armenian delegation was led by Mr
Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Armenia, acting as chair of the Cooperation Council meeting.
This meeting took place following the recent visit of HRVP Ashton to
Yerevan on 16-17 November which confirmed the EU's commitment to
reinforcing links with the region. The Cooperation Council reviewed
progress on the settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict. The EU
reaffirmed that the status quo is unacceptable and that the solution
of this conflict remains a top priority.
Both sides reiterated their support to the efforts deployed by the
OSCE Minsk Group. The EU confirmed its determination to strengthen its
support to and co-operation with the Minsk Group, notably through
further confidence building measures. 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 Cooperation Council underlined the need to remain focussed on and
speed up the implementation of the European neighbourhood policy
action plan. The Cooperation Council provided a good opportunity to
take stock of latest developments in the South Caucasus, as well as 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. In view of the deepening
bilateral relations between the EU and Armenia in the framework of the
Eastern Partnership, the EU encouraged Armenia to step up reforms in
these fields.
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 reaffirmed its readiness to continue its support for the
further development of democratic institutions in Armenia.
The two sides expressed satisfaction with the on-going negotiations on
the Association Agreement. The EU confirmed that negotiations on a
deep and comprehensive free trade area (DCFTA) would start as soon as
Armenia meets the necessary conditions, as set out in the Commission's
"Key recommendations". 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-topeople contacts.