Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian met with the EU High Representative Catherine Ashton
08-10-2013 14:52:00 | USA | Politics
On October 8th Edward Nalbandian, Foreign Minister of Armenia had a meeting in Brussels with Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs.
<p>Greeting the Foreign Minister of Armenia, the EU High Representative noted that this meeting is a good opportunity for exchanging thoughts about the joint steps to be undertaken for the further development of relations between Armenia and the EU.
Minister Nalbandian underlined that Armenia wishes to move forward the partnership with the EU in all possible directions relying on those achievements and progress which were jointly made in recent years in Armenia-EU relationships.Edward Nalbandian emphasized that in building relations with the EU, including within the framework of Eastern Partnership, Armenia aspires to have close, deep and extensive partnership simultaneously taking into account the participation in other integration processes deriving from Armenia’s interests.
;Armenia has passed an important way of reforms with the support of the EU. We are determined to continue the reform process aimed at the strengthening of democracy, human rights and rule of law, good governance, improvement of judicial system, fight against corruption. In this process we look forward to EU’s continuous support,rdquo; emphasized Minister Nalbandian.
The Armenian Foreign Minister noted the importance of EU-Armenia cooperation in mobility underlining that it has already been two years since the signing of the Declaration on “Mobility Partnership” with the EU, and last December the visa facilitation agreement was signed.
<p>In the words of Edward Nalbandian there is a serious potential in the area of sectoral cooperation which includes dozens of dimensions. The Armenian Foreign Minister noted that according to the Framework Agreement, signed between Armenia and the EU, Armenia got an opportunity to participate in various EU programs.Catherine Ashton noted that the EU wishes to continue the development of comprehensive cooperation with Armenia in all areas which could be compatible with the decision of Armenia to join the Customs Union. The preparatory works of Eastern Partnership’s Vilnius Summit were touched upon during the meeting.
In the context of the Armenian Presidency in the Council of Europe Edward Nalbandian and Catherine Ashton touched upon the cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Union.