Tweet
Armenia willing to cooperate with EU in all fields of common interest:
Edward Nalbandian
17:20 23.07.2014
On July 22 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian participated in
the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EU member states and
Eastern Partnership countries held in Brussels, attended by the High
Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Catherine Ashton, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European
Neighbourhood Policy Åtefan Füle.
Delivering a speech at the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward
Nalbandian mentioned that Armenia desires to develop its cooperation
with EU, based on the results and progress achieved over the last
years.
`At the Vilnius summit, Armenia and the EU have reconfirmed their
commitment to further develop and strengthen cooperation in all areas
of mutual interest within the Eastern Partnership, stressing the
importance updating the existing basis of our relations. We look
forward to taking further steps in order to prepare a new legal basis
of cooperation with the EU, which, on the one hand, can reflect what
has been achieved in the course of Armenia's negotiations, and, on the
other hand, will take into account the new realities', said the
Foreign Minister of RA.
Edward Nalbandian highlighted that the EU's consistent assistance and
support play significant role in the realization of reforms in
Armenia, the strengthening of democracy and institutional capacities.
The Foreign Minister of Armenia stressed that numerous areas, starting
from the political dialogue to judiciary and mobility partnership,
from migration issues to institutional reforms and the increase of
resources are on the agenda of Armenia-EU cooperation, he also
mentioned Armenia's willingness to continue working in all the fields
of common interest.
The Minister noted that expanding mobility between our societies is a
common goal and Armenia wishes to launch a dialogue on the exemption
of visa regime based on the successful experience of EU-Armenia visa
facilitation and readmission agreements.
The Foreign Minister stressed the significance of the Protocol to the
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (which entered into force this
March) on the basic principles for the participation of the Republic
of Armenia in various EU programs, that allow Armenia to take part in
different EU programs and expand bilateral sectoral cooperation.
As per regional cooperation, Minister Nalbandian stated that Turkey
continues blockading the border with Armenia and thus hinders the
normalization of bilateral relations and the exploitation of transport
and communication routes between Armenia and the EU.
It is paradoxical that Turkey as a country which expresses willingness
to join the EU has closed its border with a neighbouring country
whereas free mobility is a fundamental principle throughout the
territory of the EU.
In his speech Edward Nalbandian welcomed the appointment of Herbert
Salber as EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and wished
him success in his mission.
Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution process the
Foreign Minister of Armenia emphasized that in response to numerous
calls of the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair states,
unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia consistently reaffirmed its commitment to
the principles of the international law, in particular the non-use of
force or threat of force, equal rights and self-determination of
peoples and territorial integrity. He also expressed regret for the
absence of political will in Azerbaijan which is expressed through the
continuous rejection of all proposals by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
`We absolutely agree that peoples should be prepared for peace, not
war. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is doing just the opposite by
continuing its bellicose and provocative rhetoric, propaganda of
xenophobia, intolerance and hatred, which along with its provocations
on the line of contact with Nagorno-Karabakh and on the border with
Armenia leads to raising tension and escalation of the situation in
the region.
We also appreciate that the European Union, on various occasions, has
expressed its unequivocal support to the efforts of the Minsk Group
co-chairs aimed at exclusively peaceful resolution to the conflict,'
added Nalbandian.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/07/23/armenia-willing-to-cooperate-with-eu-in-all-fields-of-common-interest-edward-nalbandian/
Edward Nalbandian
17:20 23.07.2014
On July 22 Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian participated in
the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the EU member states and
Eastern Partnership countries held in Brussels, attended by the High
Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Catherine Ashton, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European
Neighbourhood Policy Åtefan Füle.
Delivering a speech at the meeting, Minister of Foreign Affairs Edward
Nalbandian mentioned that Armenia desires to develop its cooperation
with EU, based on the results and progress achieved over the last
years.
`At the Vilnius summit, Armenia and the EU have reconfirmed their
commitment to further develop and strengthen cooperation in all areas
of mutual interest within the Eastern Partnership, stressing the
importance updating the existing basis of our relations. We look
forward to taking further steps in order to prepare a new legal basis
of cooperation with the EU, which, on the one hand, can reflect what
has been achieved in the course of Armenia's negotiations, and, on the
other hand, will take into account the new realities', said the
Foreign Minister of RA.
Edward Nalbandian highlighted that the EU's consistent assistance and
support play significant role in the realization of reforms in
Armenia, the strengthening of democracy and institutional capacities.
The Foreign Minister of Armenia stressed that numerous areas, starting
from the political dialogue to judiciary and mobility partnership,
from migration issues to institutional reforms and the increase of
resources are on the agenda of Armenia-EU cooperation, he also
mentioned Armenia's willingness to continue working in all the fields
of common interest.
The Minister noted that expanding mobility between our societies is a
common goal and Armenia wishes to launch a dialogue on the exemption
of visa regime based on the successful experience of EU-Armenia visa
facilitation and readmission agreements.
The Foreign Minister stressed the significance of the Protocol to the
Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (which entered into force this
March) on the basic principles for the participation of the Republic
of Armenia in various EU programs, that allow Armenia to take part in
different EU programs and expand bilateral sectoral cooperation.
As per regional cooperation, Minister Nalbandian stated that Turkey
continues blockading the border with Armenia and thus hinders the
normalization of bilateral relations and the exploitation of transport
and communication routes between Armenia and the EU.
It is paradoxical that Turkey as a country which expresses willingness
to join the EU has closed its border with a neighbouring country
whereas free mobility is a fundamental principle throughout the
territory of the EU.
In his speech Edward Nalbandian welcomed the appointment of Herbert
Salber as EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus and wished
him success in his mission.
Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict resolution process the
Foreign Minister of Armenia emphasized that in response to numerous
calls of the Presidents of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chair states,
unlike Azerbaijan, Armenia consistently reaffirmed its commitment to
the principles of the international law, in particular the non-use of
force or threat of force, equal rights and self-determination of
peoples and territorial integrity. He also expressed regret for the
absence of political will in Azerbaijan which is expressed through the
continuous rejection of all proposals by the Minsk Group Co-Chairs.
`We absolutely agree that peoples should be prepared for peace, not
war. Unfortunately, Azerbaijan is doing just the opposite by
continuing its bellicose and provocative rhetoric, propaganda of
xenophobia, intolerance and hatred, which along with its provocations
on the line of contact with Nagorno-Karabakh and on the border with
Armenia leads to raising tension and escalation of the situation in
the region.
We also appreciate that the European Union, on various occasions, has
expressed its unequivocal support to the efforts of the Minsk Group
co-chairs aimed at exclusively peaceful resolution to the conflict,'
added Nalbandian.
http://www.armradio.am/en/2014/07/23/armenia-willing-to-cooperate-with-eu-in-all-fields-of-common-interest-edward-nalbandian/