The whole framework of Armenia-EU relations was discussed during RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s working consultations, featuring members of the National Security Council of the Republic of Armenia, members of Government, heads of a number of interested agencies.
The President of the republic presented the details of his visit to Brussels and posed certain issues connected with the further development of cooperation with the European Union.
Serzh Sargsyan noted that the agenda of the visit to Brussels was very rich: during three days he had more than twenty meetings with the leadership of the European Union and gave interviews to leading European media.
The primary impression from the talks was that the European structures and their representatives are obviously satisfied with the level of relations with Armenia and secondly, there is willingness to continue deepening the relations and implement more daring programs.
The President said that during the meetings reference was made to common political issues, Armenian-Turkish relations, settlement of the Karabakh conflict. However, the main topic of discussion was the Armenia-EU Action Plan.
Stressing the wish of our county to come closer to Europe, Serzh Sargsyan said that “as a first step the Armenian side proposes that the contacts between our citizens are made easier by freeing up visa rules to bring about the best conditions for trade and commerce. According to the President, an agreement was reached on creating a sub-commission with the EU Commission on Justice, Freedom and Security and it will be established in the near future.
Noting that both parties are willing to deepen the relations, the President said: “We should view these works not as a commitment, but as an activity that will provide an opportunity to continue the reforms in our country.”
In the President’s opinion, the new Action Plan will, most probably,be signed within the framework of the European Eastern Policy and will have two peculiarities: first, the component of regional cooperation will be more obvious and second, different volume and depth of cooperation will be set for participants of the neighborhood policy depending on how much the country is ready for it.
The President demanded to take the formation of the new program most seriously and instructed the Ministers and the heads of corresponding agencies to establish personal control over the works related to their spheres.
During the consultations Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian presented the process of implementation of the Action Plan, the works done in different directions in 2008, noting that those are the continuation of the actions launched in 2007. The Minister said Armenia will submit a report on the work done in 2008 during the sitting of the EU Council of Ministers on December 9, 2008.
Secretary of the National Security Council Arthur Baghdasaryan referred to the activity of the interdepartmental commission on cooperation with European structures and noted that a new ambitious package of actions has been formed on the basis of suggestions of all the interested Ministries and agencies, which can serve as a good basis for further discussions and cooperation.
Reported by the Public Radio of Armenia.
