Arka News Agency, Armenia
March 2 2007
ARMENIAN PREMIER, EU SPECIAL REP DISCUSS DOMESTIC, FOREIGN POLICY
ISSUES
YEREVAN, March 2. /ARKA/. Armenian Premier Andranik Margaryan held a
meeting with EU Special Representative in the South Caucasus Peter
Semneby.
The Press and Public Relations Department, RA Government, reports
that the sides discussed issues of Armenia’s cooperation with the
European Union (EU), upcoming elections, Nagorno-Karabakh peace
process , as well as Armenia’s relations with its neighbors and
regional cooperation. Pointing out the importance of the Armenia-EU
program of action for Armenia’s further integration into the European
structures, Premier Margaryan assured the EU Representative of the RA
Government’s willingness to make efforts to implement it.
Margaryan pointed out the importance of Semneby’s visit for further
implementation of the EU New Neighborhood Policy, which envisages the
enlargement of the economic component, considering the fact that the
EU is one of Armenia’s largest trade partners.
The sides were of the unanimous opinion that, since the Armenia-EU
program of action has been adopted, the upcoming parliamentary
elections will be of decisive importance for further democratic
reforms and Armenia’s cooperation with the EU.
The sides pointed out that the elections in conformity with
international standards are of importance not only for Armenia, but
also for the entire South Caucasus as part of the New Neighborhood
Policy.
Margaryan pointed out the importance of the political will of both
the authorities and the opposition, which will allow the political
force that gets a vote of confidence to implement its programs. "The
country’s authorities have this will, realizing its necessity for the
people and the state to ensure stable democratic development,"
Margaryan said.
The RA premier also expressed his concern over the project of
construction of the Kars-Akhalkalai-Baku railway, which is to bypass
Armenia, pointed out that proper regional cooperation is only
possible with the involvement of all the countries of the region. He
pointed out the importance of the EU’s role in encouraging regional
cooperation and welcomed the EU’s position that does not encourage
the implementation of regional projects that do not involve one
country or another, particularly Armenia.
In his turn, Semneby confirmed that the EU continues making every
effort toward the re-opening of the Armenian-Turkish border and
ensuring of participation of all the countries in the regional
projects implemented in the South Caucasus, which is an all-important
priority of the New Neighborhood policy.
Welcoming Armenia’s efforts toward European integration, Semneby
expressed hope that combined efforts will facilitate the
implementation of the Armenia-EU program of action, including that at
the level of regional cooperation. P.T. -0–