EU OFFICIAL PRAISES ARMENIA’S DEVELOPMENT

Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan,
2 Oct 06

[Presenter] The window of possibilities for the settlement of the
Karabakh conflict remains open and the European Union entirely backs
the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group, Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki
Tuomioja, who heads the delegation of the EU Troika, said at a joint
news conference with Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan in
Yerevan today.

[Correspondent] The EU-Armenia Action Plan within the framework of
the [EU’s] Neighbourhood Policy has been signed [as heard]. This is
a historic event, Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan said.

[Oskanyan] This is a very important document for us. By means of this
document, Armenia is invited to enter into intensified political,
security and economic relations with the EU.

[Correspondent] The plan will be officially signed at an annual session
of the Armenia-EU cooperation commission in Brussels. The document
sets a five-year term during which each event [in the Action Plan]
will take place. Vardan Oskanyan said that this is a document of
intentions and specific actions to bring Armenia’s socio-economic
and political systems into line with those in Europe.

[Tuomioja, speaking in English with Armenian voice-over] Armenia
has accepted and is developing according to European values of human
rights and democracy. We hail Armenia for continuing to go along the
path they have chosen and urge greater democratization. We hope that
the forthcoming elections in 2007 and 2008 will be fair and honest.

In this way, they will prove that Armenia is a democratic country.

[Correspondent] After the successful implementation of the first stage
of the programme, the EU will be open to Armenia, the EU president
said. He said that the deepening of Armenia-EU relations depends
on Armenia.

The Armenian foreign minister said that Armenia is at present not ready
to speak of full EU membership. Vardan Oskanyan said that Armenia is
ready to expand regional cooperation, which is the main part of the
Action Plan.

[Vardan Oskanyan] There are obstacles in cooperation between the
three Caucasus countries. These are obstacles created by Azerbaijan.

As you may know, Armenia has no problem and we consider that regional
cooperation will contribute to the resolution of the conflict. The
Karabakh conflict settlement and regional cooperation should take place
at the same time. However, Azerbaijan does not agree to cooperate.

We are ready to cooperate with Georgia, as well as Turkey if it opens
the borders.

[Correspondent] The EU supports the settlement of the Karabakh conflict
and backs the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group. The EU officials said
that the conflict still can be resolved.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress