ARMENIAN, AZERI FOREIGN MINISTERS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT EU COOPERATION

Armenian Public TV
Nov 14 2006

[Presenter] A new page opens in Armenia-EU relations today. The
Armenia-EU Action Plan as part of the EU New Neighbourhood Policy
will be signed in Brussels today. Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan
Oskanyan is to meet Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov
after the signing ceremony.

The Armenian foreign minister has told a news conference jointly
given by three South Caucasus foreign ministers and the EU leadership
[in Brussels] that this meeting is not a usual one and creates new
opportunites for continuing talks.

[Correspondent reported from Brussels by phone] The sides discussed
the Nagornyy Karabakh, Abkhaz and South Ossetian conflicts within the
framework of regional issues, the current state of Russian-Georgian
relations and cooperation between the three South Caucasus countries as
part of the EU New Neighbourhood Policy. The Armenia-EU Action Plan as
part of the EU New Neighbourhood Policy will be signed on 14 November.

[Armenian Foreign Minister Vardan Oskanyan, speaking in English with
Armenian voice-over] This meeting cannot be regarded as usual. It
differs from all previous ones. A new page will open in Armenia-EU
relations. Our meeting with Elmar Mammadyarov is also different. We
will hold talks after signing the Action Plan within the framework
of the EU New Neighbourhood Policy. We will meet having a new signed
document in our hands which is regulating the approaches of Armenia,
Azerbaijan and Georgia.

[Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov, speaking in Russian
with Armenian voice-over] The EU has synchronized the approaches of
the South Caucasus countries to integration into Europe.

[Correspondent] [EU Commissioner for External Relations] Benita
Ferrero-Waldner has described the signing of the Action Plan as a
transition to a new stage.

[Benita Ferrero-Waldner, speaking in English with Armenian voice-over]
Action plans are always different. They must assist regional
integration. We will work individually with all the [South Caucasus]
countries after signing the document. It will better if cooperation
assist political and economic ties even more.

[Correspondent] Elmar Mammadyarov is optimistic about South
Caucasus-Europe integration. He wished to see the transparent European
borders in South Caucasus.

[Elmar Mammadyarov] The Armenian foreign minister noted that Armenia
intends to move towards Europe and is happy about it. Why not, our
region should also have transparent borders as in Europe. Therefore,
we need to start acting in this direction.

[Correspondent] Elmar Mammadyarov also hopes that the process will
assist in resolving the refugees’ problems. But the Azerbaijani
foreign minister did not clarify the situation of Armenian refugees
from Shaumyan District [Azerbaijan’s Goranboy District] from this
standpoint. We should not avoid speaking about this, Mammadyarov said.