EU-ARMENIA ACTION PLAN TO MAKE POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM OF RA CLOSER TO EUROPE
PanARMENIAN.Net
02.10.2006 17:30 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Once the EU-Armenia Action Plan within the ENP
is signed, we’ll be able to publicly present the entire document,
Armenian FM Vartan Oskanian stated after the singing of a joint
statement with the EU Troika on completion of consultations for
working out the Action Plan. "Let me just tell you that it says
clearly, at the outset, that through this Action Plan, Armenia is
invited to enter into intensified political, security, economic and
cultural relations with the EU, enhanced regional and cross border
co-operation and shared responsibility in conflict prevention and
conflict resolution," he said.
In Oskanian’s words, the document, goes on to detail each of these
categories, and sets a 5-year time period during which each of these
actions will take place.
"The distinction of this document, as the joint statement clearly says,
is that it involves significant measures of economic integration
and political cooperation. It’s called an Action Plan and rightly
so. It is not just a document of intentions, but of concrete actions
to bring Armenia’s social, political, economic systems more in line
with Europe’s since the premise is that we do in fact live in the
same neighborhood and interact together. It opens new partnership
perspectives in very basic fields such as science, education, culture,
and of course in economic development," Oskanian remarked. In his
words, these reforms are extremely important for Armenia. "We are
where we are today, exactly because we made the courageous economic
reforms on Day 1 of our independence. We knew then and we know even
better today that reforms are our only resource, they are what will
strengthen and empower our society. This document provides the
opportunity to move forward with reforms in a focused, strategic
way. It gives us a way and a means to do what we know we must do –
revamp our institutions, retool our society, rethink our methods and
assumptions. We are signing this on the 15th year of our independence,
it will be concluded on the 20th year of our independence, and we
will be able to mark a new turning point in Armenia’s future as a
more democratic, open and prosperous society," the Minister noted.