ARMENIAN COOPERATION WITH THE EU ON A NEW LEVEL
By Nairi Muradian

AZG Armenian Daily
14/02/2009

International

On February 12, Secretary of the National Security Council, Chairman
of the interdepartmental commission for coordination of Armenia’s
cooperation with European structures Arthur Baghdasarian presented
Armenia-EU Action Plan to the Ambassadors of the European Union
countries. The Action Plan for 2009-2011 consists of 195 provisions.

The new Armenia-EU Eastern Partnership program is of great
importance. "If this program is well implemented, we will have a new
level of cooperation. From 2011 the political and economic cooperation
between Armenia and the European Union will be on a new higher level",
Arthur Baghdasarian said.

"I am sure that in case of successful implementation of the
Armenia-EU Action Plan for 2009-2011, in the framework of the European
Neighborhood Program Armenia will be able to draw nearer to the EU
in many directions", he told the journalists after the presentation
of the plan of actions.

The interdepartmental commission for coordination of Armenia’s
cooperation with European structures approved the Action Plan for
2009-2011 on November 21. The latter was worked out taking into
account the new proposals of the EU.

It is a comprehensive document including measures and projects in the
spheres of politics, law and infrastructures, as well as humanitarian,
social, financial, economic, trade, nature conservation and health
care issues.

Mr. Baghdasarian also mentioned that today the EU in the framework of
the Eastern Partnership proposed a new form of political cooperation,
and in May of this year the summit of the leaders of the participant
countries will take place.

"Armenia has announced many times that it does all in its power to
strengthen the relations with the EU both in political and economic
spheres. The Eastern Partnership is a new level in the political
cooperation with the EU countries", Arthur Baghdasarian underlined.

The Eastern Partnership Program was adopted on the initiative of
Poland and Sweden and affirmed by the 27 countries of the EU at the
Brussels Summit in December of 2008.

The Eastern Partnership Program anticipates development of cooperation
between the EU and Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova
and Ukraine.

The program anticipates signing of new multilateral trade agreements,
creation of a new trading network between the above-mentioned
countries, gradual integration in the EU economy.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress