Monday, July 10 2017 13:30

ArmInfo.Armenia highly values the partnership with the European Union and expects fruitful cooperation in the future. This was in Chisinau during the speech at the 9th  meeting of Foreign Ministers of the countries participating in the EU Eastern Partnership program, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian stated. 

"The statement particularly reads as follows: On many occasions we  have underlined the importance of the Riga Joint Declaration, its  four main areas of cooperation, principle of differentiation and  other provisions that have guided our efforts within the Eastern  partnership during the past two years. Armenia has registered sound  achievements: Horizon 2020, COSME, launching negotiations on the  Common Aviation Area Agreement, as well as the "Creative Europe",  that we intend to finalize soon, but first of all, the new  Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement that we initialed  and plan to sign in Brussels this November.

Armenia and the EU have finalized the Partnership Priorities for  2017-2020 and tomorrow in Yerevan we are going to start the talks on  the Single Support Framework of the EU assistance to Armenia for the  same period.

Among the pending issues I would mention the launch of the Visa  Liberalization Dialogue. Facilitating and intensifying the mobility  and people to people contacts has been put in the core of the Eastern  Partnership and should continue to remain as such.

In terms of the future of our cooperation, I would like to refer to  the ideas expressed by Johannes at the Ministerial meeting in  Luxembourg, specifically, the ones related to the expansion of the  TEN-T network, harmonization and reduction of the roaming tariffs and  funding the development of the Small and Medium Enterprises of  partner countries in local currencies. I believe that these proposals  can be integrated in the agenda of our future cooperation, which I  hope will be equipped with many other productive programs.

I would also like to recall the "20 deliverables for 2020" document.  It is indeed a programmatic plan of action, that outlines the  prospects of cooperation within the Eastern Partnership.

It goes without saying that drafting of the Final Declaration is one  of the most challenging tasks ahead of us in preparations of the  Summit. Armenia stands ready to contribute to the meaningful document  that will reflect the true spirit of cooperation and direct our  efforts for the years to come. The agreed language of the Riga  Declaration may serve as a basis for overcoming contentious issues as  they arise. I share the opinion of those colleagues who believe that  there is no need to poison the atmosphere of the upcoming Summit with  the issues that we all know can block the consensus.  The successful  cooperation with the European Union has contributed to the  Constitutional reform process and parliamentary elections held in  Armenia this April, that were praised by our partner countries and  specialized international organizations.

Armenia is committed to continue the reforms. The European Union has  been and will remain our trusted partner in these processes.  Armenia  appreciates the partnership with the European Union and looks forward  to the future fruitful cooperation."