EU Commissioner for External Relations due in Armenia on January 19

armradio.am
17.01.2009 14:40

Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy,
Benita Ferrero-Waldner will be traveling to Armenia, Georgia and
Azerbaijan from 19-22 January. During her visit the Commissioner will
discuss proposals to substantially upgrade the level of political
engagement with the EU’s Eastern neighbours in a new Eastern
Partnership (EaP) . Implementation of each country’s European
Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) Action will also be discussed. In Georgia
the Commissioner will discuss implementation of the up to ?¬500 million
pledged to re-launch the economy and resettle IDPs following last
summer’s conflict. In Armenia and Azerbaijan she will urge renewed
efforts to find a settlement for Nagorny Karabakh.

Prior to her visit, Commissioner for External Relations and European
Neighbourhood Policy, Benita Ferrero-Waldner said: "Georgia, Armenia
and Azerbaijan are important countries for the EU, and we want to do
more to help them advance in the reform process that will bring them
greater prosperity and stability. The new Eastern Partnership offers
the prospect of a closer political and economic ties, with very
concrete help to unlock the advantages available through the ENP ` for
example in the fields of trade, mobility and now, more importantly than
ever, new measures to increase these partners’ energy security and our
own. A very special relationship with the EU is on offer to countries
which choose to pursue reforms, particularly in improving democracy,
human rights and rule of law.’

She added: "The EU has been the key player in ending the conflict in
Georgia, and continues to strive for progress in the Geneva process,
while making the biggest overall contribution to financial assistance
to get Georgia back to normal. Equally, the EU believes that the region
will never attain its full potential as long the frozen conflict in
Nagorny Karabakh remains unresolved, and I will want to hear from
political leaders their views on the prospects for progress."

The trip will provide a timely opportunity to take stock of recent
developments in the South Caucasus as well as political and economic
reforms in Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Other topics that will be
raised with interlocutors will include energy security; the situation
of human rights and fundamental freedoms; economic consequences of the
Georgia conflict on the region and the state of play of the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as well as other topics of regional concern.

In Armenia the Commissioner will welcome a new initiative to deploy EU
experts inside the Armenian administration at a high level to support
reform efforts. These reforms are essential to help Armenia draw the
advantages of a closer relationship with Europe. The EU focuses in
particular on reform of the judiciary and freedom20of the media.
Naturally the EU’s support for the OSCE Minsk Group efforts to solve
the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict as well as improvements in
Armenian-Turkish relations will also figure high on the agenda.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner is expected to meet the President of Armenia,
Serzh Sargsyan and Foreign minister Edward Nalbandian.