ARMENIA HAILS EU’S EASTERN PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE – FOREIGN MINISTER

Mediamax
Jan 20 2009
Armenia

Yerevan, 20 January: Armenia welcomes the initiative of "Eastern
Partnership", "which will provide us new opportunities to develop
closer, deeper and more prospective cooperation with the European
Union".

Mediamax reports that the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan
said this, speaking late 19 January at the joint news conference
with EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood
Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner welcomed the initiative of the Armenian
authorities on attracting EU experts to assist the realization of
reforms in management sphere, in fighting corruption and securing
independence of the judicial system.

The European Commissioner noted the importance of searching for ways to
overcome tension between the authorities and the opposition in Armenia.

Answering the questions of the journalists, Benita Ferrero-Waldner
stated the readiness of EU to assist the settlement of Karabakh
conflict. She expressed hope that in the process of new talks,
compromise will be found between the principles of territorial
integrity and the right for self-determination, which, in case there is
flexibility demonstrated by the sides, will allow reaching a mutually
acceptable solution.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress