ARMENIA-EU RELATIONS – GOOD, DEVELOPING, EXPANDING
By Aghavni Haroutiunian

AZG Armenian Daily
21/01/2009

International politics

Benita Ferrero-Waldner in Armenia

At the meeting with the EU Commissioner on External Relations and
European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner, who arrived in
Armenia January 19 in the framework of the regional visit, Armenian
Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian discussed Armenia – European
Union relations.

The same day, at a joint conference Armenian Foreign Minister
mentioned that they attached importance to both Armenian President
Serzh Sargsian’s visit in November of last year in Brussels and the
meetings between RA Foreign Ministry and European Committee.

Benita Ferrero-Waldner in her turn underlined that very good relations
are established between Armenia and the European Union, and during
this concrete visit, the proposals connected with the widening of
the level of political involvement of the EU eastern neighbors in the
framework of the "Eastern partnership" were discussed. Implementation
of the programs of the European neighborhood policy by each country
will be discussed as well.

According to Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner, the "Eastern partnership" program
will give more opportunities to record more reforms. In this context,
the EU Commissioner welcomed the new initiative in appointing the EU
experts to the Armenian institutions that will help Armenia to come
nearer to the European standards.

The EU Commissioner on External Relations and European Neighborhood
Policy underlined the anti-corruption propositions and also the EU
contribution to the efforts to overcome the available difficulties.

In this logic, a forum will be held in May with participation of the
six countries involved in the program. During the forum agreements will
be signed, mechanisms of assistance will be worked out, and issues
of visa regimes, energy, borders, crediting programs, etc. will
be discussed.

To the question, how will the relations between Armenia and PACE
(from the perspective of depriving Armenia of a voting right) have
an influence on Armenia-EU relations, Mrs. Ferrero-Waldner gave a
general answer saying that both the authorities and the opposition
should be responsible for the solution of the issue.

To the questions related to Karabakh issue, the EU Commissioner
answered that the European Union is interested in the settlement of
the issue; the military solution is unacceptable, and the only way
is to settle the issue peacefully.