ARMENIA WILLING TO FULLY IMPLEMENT EU-ARMENIA ACTION PLAN

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 7, NOYAN TAPAN. The Armenian foreign minister Vartan
Oskanian on February 6 received the EU Troika composed of Dimitri
Rupel, the foreign minister of Slovenia – the country presiding over
the EU, Benita Ferrero-Wildner, the European Commissioner for External
Relations and European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), and Peter Semneby,
the EU Special Representative for the South Caucasus.

The delegation head D. Rupel conveyed the high opinion of the EU
regarding the implementation of the ENP Action Plan by Armenia. He
pointed out the achievements reached during the first year of the
plan’s implementation in fair governance, human rights, justice spheres
and the successful process of reforms in the police and civil service.
In the opinion of Minister Rupel, the economic growth registered in
Armenia may contribute to a growing speed of reforms in the indicated
spheres. Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Wildner spoke about democratic
reforms, saying that Armenia is confidently proceeding along the path
of European integration.

Welcoming the EU’s decision to be represented by a full mission in
Armenia, V. Oskanian underlined Armenia’s willingness to fully
implement the EU-Armenia Action Plan. He spoke about several new
initiatives aimed at increasing the efficiency of cooperation. In his
words, Armenia welcomes the current close relations with EU countries
and is confident that the past years’ positive experience of
cooperation with EU structures has created formats for establishing
closer links with the EU.

During the meeting, the sides addressed the issue of reorganizing the
EU foreign policy under the Lisbon agreement of 2007.

The interlocutors also dicussed inner political developments, in
particular, issues related to the presidential elections to be held in
Armenia on February 19. The guests attached special importance to
holding free and fair elections, underlining the necessity of progress
in holding the presidential elections.

The sides also addressed the Armenian-Turkish relations and the
prospects of solving the Nagorno Karabakh problem.