SERZH SARGSYAN AND JAVIER SOLANA DISCUSS ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS AND REGIONAL ISSUES

ARMENPRESS
Nov 6, 2008

BRUSSELS, NOVEMBER 6, ARMENPRESS: Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan
and Secretary General of the Council of the European Union Javier
Solana spoke November 5 at the meeting in Brussels about EU-Armenia
relations, referred to regional issues. In a joint press conference
with the Armenian president Javier Solana described the meeting as a
"very good" one and practical.

"It is a great pleasure for me to meet with the President of Armenia
Serzh Sargsyan, it is not the first time he is being hosted here
and we had a very good, frank and constructive dialogue. We spoke
of bilateral relations, noted that our relations are going in right
direction and are developing well. We referred to regional issues,
the recent meeting of the Armenian and Azerbaijani presidents: we
hope that this is the first step and there will be a continuation,"
Javier Solana said, adding that it is important for EU as well.

"Our interests in the region are very deep, I assured the Armenian
president that we will do everything for finding solution to the
existing issues," J. Solana said.

Armenian president on his part noted that he had a very interesting
conversation with the Secretary General. "Once again I assured that
further expansion of relations with the EU is one of the most important
points of the agenda of the Armenia’s foreign policy. I also told the
Secretary General that we are resolute in the implementation of the
Action program as we consider it the basis of our relations. I also
presented the developments taking place in our country in political,
economic spheres, referred to the negotiations with the Azerbaijani
president, we also spoke of Armenian-Turkish relations. I asked the
Secretary General to support Armenia, to support the establishment
of stability and peace in our region."

Armenian president said that an expression of Javier Solana that time
has come for actions and time for words has passed must become slogan
both for EU and Armenia.

In response to a question of a journalist that being a participant of
EU’s New Neighborhood Program, Armenia has at a same time strategic
relations with Russia and how the closer ties of Armenia and Europe
must be encouraged, Javier Solana said that "Deepening of Armenia’s
Euro integration and strategic partnership with Russia is not an
issue at least for us. We also have good relations with Russia,
now it is important how we are going to boost bilateral relations
between Armenia and EU. That region is very important for us and we
will greet closer relations," he noted.

The secretary general greeted the meeting of the Armenian and
Azerbaijani presidents in Moscow, noting that it is a good opportunity
to meet each other after the elections in the two countries and shake
hands. "I hope that the meetings will continue. You know that the
format of negotiations is the OSCE Minsk Group, we together with the
Armenian president spoke about it," he said.

In response to a question of a Turkish journalist on how the election
of Barack Obama as new president of USA will influence Armenian-Turkish
relations, and when Armenian president is going to pay a response visit
to Turkey, S. Sargsyan said, "Your question gives me an opportunity to
congratulate the American people from here on the occasion of electing
new president and say that I am sure that this election will work
for the sake of establishment and restoration of Armenian-Turkish
relations. Mr. Obama both in pre-electoral round and before that
clearly stated about our relations and I think he will support in
the regulation of relations, though they first of all depend on the
Armenian and Turkish sides. And the response visit depends on how our
negotiations will go. In Yerevan Mr. Gul invited me to be present at
Armenia-Turkey football response game which is scheduled for October
2009. It is one year time and I think that it is possible to register
progress during that time."