PRESIDENT OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION HOPES THAT ARMENIAN AUTHORITIES WILL BE ABLE TO DEEPEN DEMOCRATIC PROCESS

Noyan Tapan
April 10, 2008

YEREVAN, APRIL 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Jose Manuel Barroso, the President
of the European Commission, has addressed a congratulatory message
to Serge Sargsian on the occasion of assuming RA President’s post. He
expressed the hope that European Commission’s relations with Armenia
will continue developing and strengthening through the European Union –
Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and European Neighborhood
Policy Actions Plan.

Then, according to the report provided to Noyan Tapan by the European
Commission’s Armenian delegation, Jose Manuel Barroso’s message read:

"The European Commission looks forward to continuing to develop and
strengthen relations with your country in the context of the European
Union-Armenia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement and the European
Neighbourhood Policy Actions Plan.

"Your government faces important challenges in promoting and
implementing an agenda of political and economic reforms including
the stabilisation of the democratic process and the dialogue among
the different political forces and with civil society.

I would like to underline that despite current internal difficulties in
Armenia the European Commission stands ready to accompany your efforts
to build a prosperous State respecting human rights and the rule of
law while pursuing successful economic and social development policies.

In this context, I hope your government will be able to further
deepen democracy, notably in ensuring that electoral processes are
held in full compliance with OSCE and other international standards
for democratic elections. In this respect I trust that shortcomings
identified by the 2008 International Election Observation Mission
will be diligently addressed."

The President of the European Commission assured that all these issues
are in the focus of his attention.