Friday, October 19 2018 11:53

ArmInfo.Armenia attaches great importance to the close partnership formed with the EU. This was announced by Armenian Foreign Minister Zorab Mnatsakanyan during  a meeting with Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia of the  European External Action Service Thomas Mayer-Harting.

The press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry told ArmInfo that,  at the same time, the Armenian minister noted Yerevan's commitment to  taking practical steps to further deepen cooperation with Brussels.   Touching upon the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Expanded Partnership  (CEPA) agreement, as a new legal basis for relations with the  European Union and the member states, Mnatsakanyan stated that the  agreement is an important tool for promoting reforms in Armenia.

According to him, the main priority of the Armenian authorities is  the mobilization of government resources for the effective and  practical application of CEPA.

In this regard, the parties agreed on the importance of the  functioning of the interdepartmental commission to coordinate the  application of CEPA and the Armenia-EU partnership agreement.

Mnatsakanyan spoke about the internal political processes in Armenia,  the implementation of current reforms aimed at fighting corruption,  the rule of law, and ensuring equal opportunities in social and  economic spheres.

In the context of the upcoming extraordinary parliamentary elections,  the Armenian Foreign Minister reaffirmed the commitment of the  Armenian authorities to ensure the holding of fair and free  elections, while stressing the importance of assisting international  partners in this matter, in particular the EU.

The interlocutors exchanged views on topical issues of the regional  and international agenda, including the situation in Syria, as well  as the latest processes around the Iranian nuclear program.

Mnatsakanyan spoke about the position and priorities of Armenia on  the settlement of the Nagorno- Karabakh conflict. The interlocutors  mutually emphasized the importance of resolving the conflict  peacefully within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group.