GERMANY TO PRESS FOR STEPPING UP EU-SOUTH CAUCASUS CONTACTS

Armenpress
Dec 20 2006

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: In an exclusive interview with
Armenpress Germany’s ambassador to Armenia, Ms. Heike Renate Peitsch
said the European Union intends to step up its relationships with
countries of the South Caucasus.

She said though Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia signed in November
Actions Plans with EU within the frameworks of the European
Neighborhoods Policy (ENP) they have to work hard to implement measures
envisaged by these documents.

She said one of the top directions of Germany when it takes up next
January the chairmanship of the European Union will be to further
strengthen relations with the South Caucasus. She said the European
Union will demand that its partners conduct such national elections
that will be in conformity with international standards. She also
said the EU will continue to support the OSCE Minsk Group, the only
mandated international team of peace brokers, to help Armenia and
Azerbaijan end their dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh.

The ambassador praised dynamically developing Armenian-German
relations, singling out president Robert Kocharian’s November 15
visit to Germany and his meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel that
has given a fresh impetus to these relations.