Monday, July 22 2019 18:54

ArmInfo. This year, the European Union has doubled its bilateral financial assistance to  Armenia. Head of the EU delegation in Armenia, Ambassador Piotr  Switalski, stated this on July 22 at a press conference in Yerevan.

According to him, if in previous years, the approximate amount of EU  financial assistance to Armenia in a bilateral format was about 35  million euros, then in 2019 it amounted to 70 million euros. "And  this is not counting a number of other formats in which the EU  provides assistance to Armenian partners. Today we are negotiating  with the Armenian government on which areas these funds will be  spent. We are positively moving forward and what further assistance  will be completely dependent on of the Armenian side, "the diplomat  stressed, noting that the EU acts transparently in terms of rendering  assistance, and the projects under discussion concern the future.

Switalski pointed out that the EU has already developed a plan of  action with Armenia until 2021, but what will be the course of  assistance depends only on Armenia, on how fast the reforms will be  implemented, if they are dynamic, then the EU will give a  corresponding assessment. "This year, in Brussels, we positively  assessed the actions of the Armenian government, and this was  manifest and tangible from the point of view of financial assistance.  It is difficult to say how will be the next year. I would also like  to draw your attention to the fact that the EU allocated 190 million  euros to Armenia last year, which remained unused, "the ambassador  said, calling for the use of these funds.

The head of the EU delegation in Armenia also refused to assess the  mistakes of the RA government, stressing that no government in the  world is immune from mistakes, but the main thing is to recognize and  correct them. "But I would like to emphasize that last year vital  events took place for Armenia that need protection. Last year, the  best elections were held in Armenia, this is not the most important,  but one of the fundamental pillars of the development of democratic  institutions. You are the first step successfully but we have to go  ahead and defend what has been achieved. The second successful step  that I see is the fight against corruption. I see the political will  of the Armenian government to fight this phenomenon. The government  has taken the first step, and legislative ground is being prepared  for further steps. But the main thing here is political will, "the  diplomat said, adding that another equally important step is to  eliminate the environment of impunity in the country. Switalski  stated that for a long time in Armenia there were people who  considered themselves above the law, but now this is eliminated, and  everyone becomes equal before the law.

He reiterated the importance of implementing reforms of the judicial  and legal systems, and called for independent and objective media to  assist the government. "No government is immune from mistakes, but it  is important to recognize and accept them. Independent and objective  media should help the government in this direction, pointing out  mistakes with objective criticism," the ambassador said.  Summing up  the results of his activities in Armenia, Switalski stressed that he  generally appreciates his work in the country. "There were, of  course, omissions, but in general there were both professional and  personal achievements. I am satisfied with my work in your country.  Probably, it is too early to give a general assessment of the events  in Armenia during my stay - this is also a velvet revolution, and  capture of the Regiment of the patrol service, and the April war, but  in general, I positively assess my stay in Armenia ", the ambassador  concluded.