IT IS EXPEDIENT TO HAVE EUROPEAN COMMISSION RESIDENT AMBASSADOR IN YEREVAN, RA PRIME MINISTER CONSIDERS

Noyan Tapan
Dec 05 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 5, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia is ready for exerting
maximum efforts in the direction of efficient implementation of
EU-Armenia Actions Plan approved in November within the framework of
the European Neighborhood policy.

RA Prime Minister Andranik Margarian declared this during his
December 5 meeting with newly appointed Head of European Commission’s
delegation in Armenia and Georgia, Per Goran Eklund. He said that
the European Comission, and, in particular, the delegation of the
European Commission in Armenia, certainly, will make its considerable
contribution in this issue. Saying that in Armenia they positively
estimate European Commission delegation’s activity, A.Margarian
meanwhile noted that in consideration of the growing volume of
issues on Armenia-EU agenda, it will be expedient to have a European
Commission Resident Ambassador in Yerevan. He informed the guest that
RA Foreign Minister has aleady applied to Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
Commissioner for Issues of European Neighborhood Policy, with this
issue. The head of European Commission’s delegation assured that
Armenia’s wish and proposal to have an individual ambassador will be
taken into consideration without fail. He said that no country will
be given a special preference within the framework of the neighborhood
in case of such appointment and a European Commission Ambassador will
be appointed both in Baku and in Yerevan, so Armenia should have no
anxiety about violating the principle of parity. As NT was informed
from RA government Information and Public Relations Department,
during the talk they touched upon the assistance of 400 mln euros
provided to Armenia by the European Commission since independence
within the framework of TACIS and other different programs.

M.Margarian said that the assistance being provided currently also
considerably contributes to Armenia’s economic, political progress
and facilitates the process of European integration. RA Prime Minister
said that parallel with activization of political dialogue, EU-Armenia
trade and economic ties are also being extended: EU is Armenia’s
biggest trade partner and the volume of foreign investments in the
country’s economy made by EU is also significant.