ARMENIAN PRIME MINISTER MEETS WITH EU HIGH COMMISSIONER KHAVIER SOLANA
Armenpress
Dec 10 2007
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Prime Minister Serzh
Sargsian, who is in Brussels on a working visit, met today with the
EU High Commissioner Khavier Solana.
Governmental press service told Armenpress that during the meeting
Khavier Solana greeted the visit of the Armenian prime minister
to Brussels and noted that it is taking place on right time when
presidential elections are going to take place in Armenia. The high
commissioner pointed out that he had many times met with the Armenian
president with whom he has warm relations and discussed issues on
the development of EU-Armenia relations. He also underscored the
conduction of the coming presidential elections in accordance with
international standards.
On his turn, the Armenian prime minister conveyed the greetings
of the Armenian president noting that he is aware of their warm
relations. S. Sargsian said that main issues of Armenia are elections,
process of democratization, which first of all stems from the interest
of Armenia and its people. "We seek to conduct good elections and
be assessed not only from outside but inside as well," the prime
minister said.
He noted that in this respect, parliamentary elections conducted
in Armenia were positively assessed and Armenia is interested in
developing the success that is to say to conduct the presidential
elections better.
According to him, today Armenia has a number of difficult issues –
Karabakh conflict, relations with Turkey, conduction of reforms of
the second round. He noted that these issues may be regulated only
by a person who became president as result of elections conducted in
accordance with international standards.
Khavier Solana agreed with the Armenian prime minister, expressing
hope that the elections will pass on a high level.
During the meeting the interlocutors also referred to the regional
issues including the Karabakh conflict regulation issue. Armenian
prime minister pointed out that Armenia sees regulation of Karabakh
conflict only in a peaceful way. According to him, in spite of
Azerbaijan’s military rhetoric, there are big opportunities for it,
as he believes that the peaceful regulation of the conflict does not
have any alternative.
Khavier Solana also considered the military regulation of the conflict
inadmissible, pointing out that EU will not let such worsening of
the events. The prime minister pointed out that having EU’s support,
it is possible to regulate relations with Turkey as well.
EU high commissioner noted that after the elections the work towards
implementation of Armenia-EU Action program carried out within the
framework of EU new neighborhood policy will continue.
At the end of the meeting Khavier Solana wished success to the prime
minister and Armenia.
After the meeting with the EU high commissioner Serzh Sargsian met
with the EU Science and Research Affairs Commissioner Yanes Potochnik
and leader of the European People’s Party Wilfred Martens.
The prime minister is also expected to meet with NATO Secretary
General Yaap de Hoop Scheffer, mayor of Brussels Freddy Tielmans.