J. SOLANA SAYS FOR EU THE RELATIONS WITH ARMENIA ARE VERY IMPORTANT

ArmenPress
April 21 2009
Armenia

"The South Caucasus region is of particular importance to us for
several reasons. In particular, after the launch of the Eastern
Partnership on 7 May, our relations with the three South Caucasus
countries will move at a more advanced level", – EU High Representative
for the Common Foreign and Security Policy Mr. Javier Solana said in
an interview to Armenpress, stressing that the efforts for contributing
to the region’s stability, security and prosperity will also intensify.

He assessed that for the EU, its relations with Armenia are very
important. A special attention is attached to regional cooperation
in promoting peace and confidence building.

"The most recent wave of enlargement has brought the EU to the shores
of the Black Sea area and has further contributed to turning the
South Caucasus into a closer EU neighbor. In 2004, the EU extended
the European Neighborhood Policy to Armenia; in 2007, we launched the
Black Sea Synergy Initiative and now with the Eastern Partnership the
EU offers its Eastern partners the opportunity to further deepen our
relationship in many fields: political, economical, financial. This
partnership will also add a very important multilateral dimension
to our cooperation, which should substantially contribute to the
development of regional cooperation in Southern Caucasus", – the
High Representative said expressing hope to visit the region in the
nearest future.