ARMENIAN PARLIAMENT SETS UP COMMITTEE FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Mediamax news agency
25 Jun 07

Yerevan, 25 June: The chairman of the parliament’s standing committee
for European integration, Avet Adonts, has said in an interview with
Mediamax that "our committee has much work ahead".

Avet Adonts said that "apart from the fact that our committee is a new
structure in the National Assembly, it is yet the only official body
in Armenia in whose name the words ‘European integration’ are used".

He noted that the committee would be dealing with Armenia’s relations
with the European Union, the Council of Europe and other European
organizations, and with bringing Armenia’s legislation into line with
European standards.

Avet Adonts said that in autumn, cooperation with the European Union
would be stepped up as part of the Action Plan within the framework
of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP).

"This is a long-term programme which provides for bringing our
legislation closer to European standards and harmonizing it in all
directions. In this respect, we have serious and large-scale work
ahead," the chairman of the committee said in his interview with
Mediamax.

Avet Adonts noted that "we are interested in broadening political
dialogue and economic cooperation with the EU and its member states,
and we intend to develop cooperation with the European Parliament both
within the framework of the existing committee for inter-parliamentary
cooperation of Armenia and the EU, and by means of establishing direct
contacts with the committees and factions of the European Parliament".

The chairman of the committee said that the Council of Europe "is an
excellent format for lobbying the issues of importance for us".

"At the same time, one should not limit the activities of the
delegation only to the issues which directly relate to Armenia. We
should make our stance clear as to the whole spectrum of European
architecture and fully participate in the processes going on in
the Council of Europe," the chairman of the parliament’s standing
committee for European integration said.