RA PM AND EU COMMISSIONER ON SCIENCE MET

2007-12-11 12:11:00

ArmInfo. RA Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan discussed the issues of
cooperation in scientific and scientific-research spheres with the
EU Commissioner for science and research Janez Potocnik in Brussels.

As the Armenian governmental press-service told ArmInfo, RA PM
said during yesterday’s meeting that, along with extension of
cooperation with EU, it is important to establish direct contacts
with the Commissioners of the European Commission, the scope of
responsibilities of whom includes the issues of priority of Armenia-EU
Actions Programme. S. Sargsyan said that he attaches special importance
to the meeting with Potocnik in this context since the science and
scientific-research activities, being traditional priority importance
for Armenia, have not been yet brought into line with the modern market
terms taking into account the policy aimed at creation of a science-
intensive economy.

In view of this, presenting the recent reforms in the area of science
organization, RA PM attached importance to the European Commission’s
assistance in this area through consultations, seminars, specialist
exchange. He also called the programmes, carried out by EU in the area
of science and scientific research, in which Armenia also takes part,
important. In particular, he emphasized the frame programmes and the
"Marie Curie" programme. RA PM added that the funds, envisaged by these
programmes, are not distributed equally because of high competition. In
view of this, he offered to establish a definite simplified order or
a quote for the countries, included in the European Neighbourhood
Policy. S. Sargsyan also said that Armenia attentively studies a
possibility of scientific cooperation with EU also within the frames
of regional organizations, in particular, the Organization of Black
Sea Economic Cooperation.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the required measures
and mechanisms for Armenia’s integration in the European research
zone. Having noted that the National Academy of Sciences of Armenia,
via its potential, scientific-research centers and institutes,
can make a serious contribution in implementation of programmes,
S. Sargsyan emphasized the necessity of elaborating such mechanisms
which will allow, at the initial period, to use the existing potential
in Armenia-EU partnership development. From this point of view, he
offered to create scientific centers or national laboratories on the
principles of self-financing, which will carry out researches within
the frames of the established scientific priorities and which will
allow the Armenian institutes to establish an efficient cooperation
with the leading European institutes.

The message also reads that after the meeting with Janez Potocnik,
S. Sargsyan met Head of the European People’s party Wilfred Martens, as
well as NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. It is envisaged
that during his stay in the Belgian capital, S. Sargsyan will meet
Mayor of Brussels Freddy Thielemans. RA PM also gave an interview to
the "La Stampa" newspaper.