ARMENIAN GOVERNMENT PREPARED TO COOPERATE CLOSELY WITH EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Noyan Tapan
Feb 18, 2009

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 18, NOYAN TAPAN. During the December 18 meeting
of Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and the delegation led
by Director of the European Commission’s Directorate General for
Trade Eva Synowiec, the sides discussed issues related to Armenia’s
cooperation with the EU within the framework of the free trade regime,
the process of the work on signing a free trade agreement, as well
as issues of extending the cooperation by the Eastern Partnership
concept to be implemented under the European Neighborhood Policy.

According to the press service of the government, both sides attached
special importance to signing a EU-Armenia free trade agreement (FTA).

E. Synowiec said that thanks to Eastern Partnership, a long and
extensive cooperation with Armenia and the other countries involved
in the Partnership is envisaged. In her words, the aim of their
fact-finding mission is to become acquainted with the current situation
in Armenia and map out a preparatory process for negotiaions of a FTA.

T. Sargsyan expressed a hope that this process will be successfully
completed, which may give impetus to reforms in Armenia. At the request
of the quests, he presented the RA government’s anti-crisis strategy,
priorities and programs (by sectors) which are based on identification
and use of Armenia’ relative advantages in these sectors. He stated
that the Armenian government is prepared to cooperate closely with
the European Commission.