Thursday, July 17 2014

Armenia-EU relations are at the stage of reflection, the head of the European Union Delegation to Armenia, Traian Hristea, told Arminfo correspondent.  

Together with the authorities of Armenia, the Armenian society, international partners, as well as the EU member-states and European agencies we are now in the middle of the reflection process, he said and added that they cannot immediately adopt a decision about further cooperation format. The ambassador said that at present they have been discussing the spheres of cooperation with Armenia after its decision to join the Customs Union and Eurasian Economic Union. What cooperation spheres will not hinder the given integration and will be able to serve as a basis for further partnership. Despite the results of the talks, he hopes that they will be clear soon. Anyway, we should implement the Vilnius arrangements, Mr Hristea said. In this context, the diplomat added that there is a clear mandate endorsed at the Vilnius summit, which they have been jointly implementing with Armenian partners from the government and civil society. 

He did not agree to the viewpoint that no practical steps have been implemented for development of the Armenia-EU relations, as after the Vilnius summit they were discussing the cooperation with civil society, in the agriculture sector and various twinning-programmes. He also added that as soon as the reflection stage ends, the parties will start negotiating so that to project the results in the legal field. The diplomat declined to name specific terms of ending of this stage.