10TH MEETING OF ARMENIA-EUROPEAN UNION PARLIAMENTARY COOPERATION COMMITTEE SUMMED UP

National Assembly of RA
April 9 2009
Armenia

On April 8 the works of the 10th meeting of Armenia-European Union
Parliamentary Cooperation Committee continued. The meeting presided
over Co-Chair of Armenia-European Union Parliamentary Cooperation
Committee Mrs. Marie Anne Isler Beguin.

A number of issues were included in the agenda of the committee,
which the Armenian and European parliamentarians touched upon and
expressed their views.

MP Mr. Armen Ashotyan presented the problems of Armenia-European
cooperation in the spheres of health care, education and culture,
the reforms being implemented and the programmes. Mr Ashotyan said
that as a result of the influence of global financial-economic crisis
some budgetary programmes have been moved to the end of the year but
have not been reduced. He highlighted the enlivening of cooperation
in the humanitarian sphere with EU countries and the availability of
distinct programmes.

MP Mr. Karen Chshmarityan gave a speech on the macro-economic
development in Armenia, influence of the global financial-economic
crisis on the economy, reduction of its consequences and ways
of prevention. According to Mr. Chshmarityan, though the crisis,
nevertheless, had an impact on the economy of Armenia, in particular,
on the rates of growth of construction and industry. Touching upon the
economic policy being pursued Mr. Chshmarityan noted Armenia had chosen
and continued to pursue free economic policy, which had favourable
impact on overcoming the crisis. As a second stabilizing circumstance
he noted that the country had pass to the floating money currency.

He considered an obstacle of development of trade-economic relations
between Armenia and EU countries not understandable order of providing
entry visas to Europe and its simplification by the EU assistance.

Mr. Raul de Luzenberger, Head of delegation of European Commission
in Armenia made clarifications on this problem. He noticed that
united discussions were going on the problem of providing visas in
EU countries, a number of problems exist, and Armenia should take
certain steps in the settlement of the problem.

MP Mr. Gagik Melikyan presented the tendencies of the poverty reduction
and the development of labour market in Armenia and the envisaged
steps, i.e. the road construction to be implemented by the financial
assistance of the international organizations, the planned house
construction in the disaster area, the repairing of the drinking and
irrigation water, the construction of Iran-Armenia railway and new
nuclear energy block.

Mrs. Marie Anne Isler Beguin, Co-Chair of the Committee considered
concerning the information about the construction of the new nuclear
energy block, proposing to think once again about its expediency,
taking into account the seismic danger of the region.

MP Mr. Hovhannes Margaryan spoke about the programmes being implemented
on the environment protection in Armenia, in particular, the rise
of the level of Lake Sevan, mine clearing of border areas and making
them cultivate, issues of security of poisonous chemicals.

MP Mr. Armen Rustamyan presented the positions of Armenia on regional
issues. He touched upon the settlement problem of Nagorno Karabakh
conflict, armed conflict between Georgia and Russia, which had a
negative impact on Armenia and regional cooperation.

At the end of the meeting Armenia-European Union Parliamentary
Cooperation Committee adopted a text of announcements and
recommendations, which consisted of 41 items and contains issues
regarding Armenia-EU relations, inner situation of Armenia, human
rights, rule of law, economic policy, regional problems and Nagorno
Karabakh conflict.

Armenia-European Union Parliamentary Cooperation Committee completed
the work of the 10th meeting.

Co-Chairs Mrs. Marie Anne Isler Beguin and Mr. Avet Adonts thanked
for effective joint work and expressed hope that Armenia-EU would
continue to develop and find new ways of cooperation.