PETER SEMNEBY: HOLDING OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IN ARMENIA TO HAVE CERTAIN INFLUENCE ON EU-RA RELATIONS

Noyan Tapan
Feb 6, 2008

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. The building of the delegation of
the European Commission opened in Yerevan on February 5. The ribbon
symbolizing the opening was cut by Vardan Oskanian, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, and Benita Ferrero-Waldner,
the European Commissioner for External Relations. The latter together
with Dmitri Rupel, the Foreign Minister of Slovenia, and Peter Semneby,
the European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus,
is taking part in the February 4-6 visit of the Azerbaijan, Georgia
and Armenia EU ministerial three.

According to the EU Special Representative, Armenia and the European
Union have recorded great progress in their relations for the past
two years. The European Union has had a regional delegation in Tbilisi
since 2005, henceforth it will operate with diplomatic status, which
is one more step in the direction of strengthening relations, the
office will contribute to the complete development of the relations
of Armenia with the European Commission and the European Union. He
expressed content with the fact that all the nine candidates for
presidency are for the strengthening of relations with the European
Union. He wished fair and transparent elections: may the best win.

The RA Minister of Foreign Affairs regarded the opening of the building
of the European Commission in Yerevan as historical. According to him,
the EU-Armenia relations will get a new quality, the opening of the
building will contribute to productive daily work.

In his interview with journalists Peter Semneby regarded Armenia
as an important colleague for the European Union. He mentioned that
since democracy is one of the priorities of the Armenia-EU relations
and elections are an inseparable part of democracy, the holding
of elections in this respect can have a certain influence on the
EU-Armenia relations.