EU OFFICIAL HIGHLY EVALUATES REFORMS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN ARMENIA

Noyan Tapan News Agency, Armenia
Sept 25 2007

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 25, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia will present its report
on fulfilment of the European Neighborhood policy at the end of the
year. The report will include the activities done in 2007. Armen
Bayburdian, the RA Deputy Foreign Minister, stated this at the
September 25 press conference dedicated to summing up the results of
the 8th sitting of Armenia-European Union Cooperation Committee held
in September in Yerevan.

According to A. Bayburdian, the European Commission has provided
support of 98m euros to Armenia for 2007-2010 within the framework of
the European Neighborhood policy. He said that the priorities outlined
by the EU-Armenia Actions Plan are supremacy of democratic structures,
laws, strengthening of human rights, assistance to economic and social
development, to name but a few.

A. Bayburdian said that the discussions mainly regarded the process
of implementation of the Actions Plan, including assistance provided
to Armenia by EU and further cooperation. At the three-day sitting
they also touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh settlement, development
of regional cooperation.

Gunnar Wiegand, the Head of the Department of East Europe, South
Caucasus, and Central Asia of European Commission’s Foreign Relations
General Unit, said that EU is Armenia’s partner in the issues of
economic diversification, reforms implemented in economic and political
spheres. "We are very impressed by reforms being implemented by Armenia
in a number of spheres. Armenia is on the way of establishment of
close relations with the European Union," he said.

According to G. Wiegand, EU provided 21m euros to Armenia in 2007,
which are aimed at administration sphere reforms, poverty reduction,
and other spheres. He said that 24m euros will be provided in 2008.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress