HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN: EUROPEAN INTEGRATION ONE OF THE PRIORITIES OF ARMENIA’S FOREIGN POLICY

armradio.am
16.05.2009 14:44

On May 16 the Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, Hovik
Abrahamyn, received the EU Special representative for the South
Caucasus, Peter Semneby. Chairman of the National Assembly’s Standing
Committee on European Integration Avet Adonts, Head of the European
Commission Delegation to Armenia Raul de Luzenberger, Poland’s
Ambassador to Armenia Thomas Knothe were present at the meeting.

Greeting the guests, the Armenian Parliament Speaker appreciated the
process of the EU Eastern Partnership Program, the results of the
summit held in Prague on May 7 and EU’s growing interest in the region.

Hovik Abrahamyan confirmed that European integration was one of the
priorities of Armenia’s foreign policy. He attached importance to
bilateral contacts, the intensification of parliamentary collaboration
for promoting regional stability, peace, as well as political and
economic cooperation.

Turning to the process of settlement of the Karabakh issue, NA Speaker
Hovik Abrahamyan noted that Armenia appreciated the mediating efforts
of the OSCE Minsk Group, underlining that the conflict should be
resolved on the basis of the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh
for self-determination and non-use of force.

During the meeting reference was made to the internal political
situation in the Armenia . The Parliament Speaker emphasized
the importance of ensuring an atmosphere of tolerance, expressing
confidence that progress in that direction would be noticeable within
the coming months.

Peter Semneby also attached importance to the launch of the Eastern
Partnership and the signing of the declaration in Prague. The EU
Special Representative hailed Mr. Abrahamyan’s suggestion to promote
interparliamentary cooperation in the region and the bilateral
contacts, which would greatly contribute to the peaceful settlement
of the conflict and establishment of stability in the region.

The parties stressed the importance of the fair and transparent
conduct of the elections for the Yerevan City Council.