Tweet
Serzh Sargsyan: Nagorno Karabakh is part of the European family
armradio.am
07.03.2012 10:20
In the framework of his working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium,
President Serzh Sargsyan met today with the President of the European
Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. At the conclusion of the meeting,
Presidents of Armenia and the European Commission gave a joint press
conference.
President Serzh Sargsyan stated:
'Mr. President, I am glad to see you again and appreciate the
opportunity to discuss issues of the Armenia-EU agenda. Very important
developments have taken place since our last meeting which allowing
Armenia and EU to reach a new milestone in their relations. We greatly
appreciate the input made by the European Commission and Mr. Barroso
personally to the deepening of our cooperation.
I would like to note from the very beginning that our approaches and
positions on all issues of our agenda completely coincide. Armenia's
relations with the European Union are anchored in the same system of
values which is conditioned by our historical, cultural, religious and
linguistic similarities.
At the same time, I am happy to affirm that today our relations
develop upward. Recently, relations between Armenia and EU have
entered a qualitatively new level; we are registering decisive
progress on the entire spectrum of our relations.
We have underscored with mutual satisfaction considerable progress
achieved in the negotiations on the Armenia-EU Association Agreement.
It will elevate our relations in the legal field to a new level and
will set precise guidelines for a close cooperation in the areas of
security policy, democracy, economic integration, human rights, energy
and others.
Another milestone of our mutual success is the unanimous decision of
all EU member states to launch negotiations on the Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Zone, which also speaks of the efficiency of
the steps undertaken by the Armenian Government on that direction. The
European Union is Armenia's largest trading partner and signing of
this Agreement will have a critical influence on further integration,
encouragement of investments and will become a serious impetus for the
development of the Armenian economy.
We stressed the importance of the start of the negotiations on the
agreement for visa regime facilitation with the EU countries which
kicked off February 27 in Yerevan. We expect that the negotiations
will be concluded successfully in a short period of time and will
create greater opportunities for the citizens of Armenia and EU member
states to enhance contacts on the different levels.
At the moment, the main elements of our political dialogue with EU are
our internal reforms and synchronization with the European agenda for
acting as a one entity. We are resolute to go on with the deep and
comprehensive reforms in Armenia; we view reforms currently undertaken
in our country also as an important part of our unfolding cooperation
with the EU.
We welcome and share European Union's `more assistance for more
reforms' principle. In developing certain programs for the
implementation of the reforms, we are guided by that very principle. I
have also expressed my gratitude to the European Union for the
continuous support provided to Armenia.
At our meeting, we have also touched upon the parliamentary elections
to be held in Armenia in May, and I have reiterated commitment of the
Armenian side to organize and conduct the electoral process in
accordance with the European and international standards. We realize
the importance of conducting free, fair and democratic elections for
the future development and prosperity of our country.
We have also discussed a number of regional issues. I presented to Mr.
Barroso the current stage of the NK peace process. The Armenian side
sees no alternative to the resolution of the conflict through the
peaceful negotiations in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Regardless of the electoral processes in Armenia and countries
involved in the resolution of the NK problem, the Armenia side remains
committed to the maintenance of the peace process in the framework of
the OSCE Minsk Group and conclusion of the work on the Basic
principles. Only after that it will be possible to start negotiations
on the `Large Framework Agreement.' Negotiations and war-mongering
propaganda, racial hatred and acquisition of an unprecedented amount
of armaments are mutually exclusive. Those who `play' war should have
learned history lessons long ago.
Armenia has always stressed the importance of establishing direct
contacts with the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh and the necessity
for the EU representatives to conduct regular visits to Karabakh. We
have also stressed on many occasions that Nagorno Karabakh is part of
the European family, the carrier of the same values which pursues the
goal of creating a structure based on the protection of human rights
and the rule of law.'
armradio.am
07.03.2012 10:20
In the framework of his working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium,
President Serzh Sargsyan met today with the President of the European
Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. At the conclusion of the meeting,
Presidents of Armenia and the European Commission gave a joint press
conference.
President Serzh Sargsyan stated:
'Mr. President, I am glad to see you again and appreciate the
opportunity to discuss issues of the Armenia-EU agenda. Very important
developments have taken place since our last meeting which allowing
Armenia and EU to reach a new milestone in their relations. We greatly
appreciate the input made by the European Commission and Mr. Barroso
personally to the deepening of our cooperation.
I would like to note from the very beginning that our approaches and
positions on all issues of our agenda completely coincide. Armenia's
relations with the European Union are anchored in the same system of
values which is conditioned by our historical, cultural, religious and
linguistic similarities.
At the same time, I am happy to affirm that today our relations
develop upward. Recently, relations between Armenia and EU have
entered a qualitatively new level; we are registering decisive
progress on the entire spectrum of our relations.
We have underscored with mutual satisfaction considerable progress
achieved in the negotiations on the Armenia-EU Association Agreement.
It will elevate our relations in the legal field to a new level and
will set precise guidelines for a close cooperation in the areas of
security policy, democracy, economic integration, human rights, energy
and others.
Another milestone of our mutual success is the unanimous decision of
all EU member states to launch negotiations on the Deep and
Comprehensive Free Trade Zone, which also speaks of the efficiency of
the steps undertaken by the Armenian Government on that direction. The
European Union is Armenia's largest trading partner and signing of
this Agreement will have a critical influence on further integration,
encouragement of investments and will become a serious impetus for the
development of the Armenian economy.
We stressed the importance of the start of the negotiations on the
agreement for visa regime facilitation with the EU countries which
kicked off February 27 in Yerevan. We expect that the negotiations
will be concluded successfully in a short period of time and will
create greater opportunities for the citizens of Armenia and EU member
states to enhance contacts on the different levels.
At the moment, the main elements of our political dialogue with EU are
our internal reforms and synchronization with the European agenda for
acting as a one entity. We are resolute to go on with the deep and
comprehensive reforms in Armenia; we view reforms currently undertaken
in our country also as an important part of our unfolding cooperation
with the EU.
We welcome and share European Union's `more assistance for more
reforms' principle. In developing certain programs for the
implementation of the reforms, we are guided by that very principle. I
have also expressed my gratitude to the European Union for the
continuous support provided to Armenia.
At our meeting, we have also touched upon the parliamentary elections
to be held in Armenia in May, and I have reiterated commitment of the
Armenian side to organize and conduct the electoral process in
accordance with the European and international standards. We realize
the importance of conducting free, fair and democratic elections for
the future development and prosperity of our country.
We have also discussed a number of regional issues. I presented to Mr.
Barroso the current stage of the NK peace process. The Armenian side
sees no alternative to the resolution of the conflict through the
peaceful negotiations in the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.
Regardless of the electoral processes in Armenia and countries
involved in the resolution of the NK problem, the Armenia side remains
committed to the maintenance of the peace process in the framework of
the OSCE Minsk Group and conclusion of the work on the Basic
principles. Only after that it will be possible to start negotiations
on the `Large Framework Agreement.' Negotiations and war-mongering
propaganda, racial hatred and acquisition of an unprecedented amount
of armaments are mutually exclusive. Those who `play' war should have
learned history lessons long ago.
Armenia has always stressed the importance of establishing direct
contacts with the authorities of Nagorno Karabakh and the necessity
for the EU representatives to conduct regular visits to Karabakh. We
have also stressed on many occasions that Nagorno Karabakh is part of
the European family, the carrier of the same values which pursues the
goal of creating a structure based on the protection of human rights
and the rule of law.'