F. Mogherini: the European Union is ready to continue rendering  assistanceto the government of Armenia in the implementation of  democratic reforms

ArmInfo.European Union readycontinue to assist the Armenian government in implementing democratic reforms. The high representative of the EU for foreign and  security policy, Federica Mogherini, said this in Brussels the day  before in a meeting with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

Federica Mogherini, welcoming the visit of Nikol Pashinyan to  Brussels, Federica Mogherini stressed the importance of strengthening  cooperation with Armenia. She reaffirmed the structure's intentions  to support the republic in the implementation of democratic reforms  aimed at strengthening the rule of law, fighting corruption,  protecting human rights, and ensuring economic progress.In turn, the  RA Prime Minister stressed that the EU is a reliable partner of  Armenia, and the political changes in the country further  strengthened the ties between Armenia and the European Union, which  share common values.During the meeting, the sides discussed issues  related to the Agreement on a Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership  between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union, the process  of liberalizing the visa regime, European Union assistance initiated  by the Government of the Republic of Armenia and the agenda of  bilateral cooperation. 

Nikol Pashinyan noted that the political dialogue between Armenia and  the EU is at a high level, as evidenced by the official reciprocal  high-level visits. The premier added that the executive body is ready  to continue and further develop effective cooperation in areas of  mutual interest. Nikol Pashinyan and Federica Mogherini exchanged  views on regional issues, touched upon the settlement of the Nagorno-  Karabakh conflict. The sides stressed the importance of its peaceful  settlement within the framework of the international format of the  OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. Earlier, the European Commission issued a  report, according to which the EU's intentions were announced to  provide loans to Armenia for more than 700 million euros for the  implementation of reform programs. 

The report notes that financial assistance will be allocated to  countries participating in the Eastern Partnership program - Armenia,  Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus. The amount of  loans to be financed by the EU and the World Bank will exceed 13  billion euros. Note that the Eastern Partnership (EaP) is a program  of the European Union, launched in Paris in 2009. The idea of the  project was presented by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski.  The EAP sets itself the main task - the development of EU relations  with the six countries of the former Soviet Union: Azerbaijan,  Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. Armenia in 2017 at  the summit in Brussels signed a comprehensive partnership agreement  with the EU. According to the signed agreement, the republic will  receive a loan in exchange for reforms.