ARMENIA STRIVING TO GET CLOSER TO EUROPE

armradio.am
28.10.2008 11:15

President Serzh Sargsyan received the Special Representative of the
European Union for the South Caucasus, Peter Semneby, President’s
Press Office reported.

The President said Armenia is striving to get closer to Europe, and
attaches great importance to the expansion of its relations with the
European Union.

"In this regard we anticipate the EU’s assistance and support,"
he said.

Peter Semneby noted that the upcoming visit of President Sargsyan to
Brussels would allow to assess the relations and outline the general
agenda of interrelation.

The President of Armenia and Ambassador Semneby spoke about the
regional developments, the peaceful resolution of the Karabakh
conflict, and the Armenian -Turkish relations.

Noting that Armenia favors peaceful resolution of the Karabakh
issue based on the Madrid Principles, Serzh Sargsyan said, "Armenia
recognizes the OSCE Minsk Group as the format for the negotiations,
and the MG Co-Chair states – as the mediators in the process."

Peter Semneby welcomed Armenia’s initiative and determination to
normalize relations with Turkey and said that the European Union is
ready to provide whatever assistance is necessary for the regulation
of the relations between the two neighboring countries.

The EU Special Representative also hailed the decision to establish a
fact-finding group to probe into the events of March 1, and engagement
in its activities not only of the parliamentary but also of the
representatives of the non-parliamentary opposition.