REINFORCEMENT OF TIES WITH THE SOUTH CAUCASUS TO BE ONE OF EU PRIORITIES IN 2007
ArmRadio.am
20.12.2006 13:45
In 2007 Germany will preside over the European Union. What will be
Germany’s policy towards the South Caucasus and Armenia, in particular?
German Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary in Armenia Haike
Peitsch responding to the questions of "Armenpress" agency.
In response to the question about Germany’s assistance to Armenia in
the framework of the EU-Armenia Action Plan in the framework of the
European Neighborhood Policy, Ambassador Peitsch said that Germany
and other European states are holding consultations to choose the
best way of accomplishment of the Action Plans with the countries
of the South Caucasus. In the course of weeks the program will be
ratified. "However, the question is what Armenia should do for the best
accomplishment of the Action Plan," says the Ambassador, adding that
in this sense one of the most essential events are the forthcoming
parliamentary elections. "We require our partner countries to hold
elections in compliance with international standards. The European
Neighborhood Policy and the Action Plan signed in the framework of
it suggest high standards to Armenia, and we should get convinced
that Armenia will meet this in the future," the Ambassador noted.
What will e the EU’s role in the settlement of the Karabakh conflict
during Germany’s chairmanship? What is Germany’s stance on the current
format of the talks and in which frameworks does Germany see the
resolution of the issue?
Haike Peitsch responded that "the organization that is entitled and
is engaged in the settlement of the Karabakh issue is the OSCE with
the Minsk Group represented by three Co-Chairs coming from Russia,
France and the US. The European Union assists in every possible way and
backs the resolution of the NK conflict in this very framework." She
stressed that the position of the OSCE is definite, and Germany also
stands for the settlement of the issue exceptionally in a peaceful way.
Turning to the Armenian-German political and economic cooperation,
Ambassador Haike Renate Peitsch said Armenia can always rely upon
the assistance of Germany. "We promote also Armenia’s integration
into Euro-Atlantic structures.
After the United States Germany is the second country providing
grants to Armenia. With respect to economy, Germany has two very
large investments in Armenia. We are working in the direction of
further enlargement of these investments," noted the German Ambassador
extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Armenia.