European Union (EU) gives sign for stronger cooperation with Yerevan
Ararat News-Publishing (ANP) – Brussels, Fiona Lorin, Roni Alasor – 9 April 2010 EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, Stefan Füle, concluded his first official trip to Armenia. During his visit Commissioner Füle launched the National Indicative Program 2011-2013 for Armenia, which foresees an allocation of 157.3 million € for projects in the Eastern Partnership context. Štefan Füle met with the Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and with the Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian.
According Commissioner Füle, EU-Armenia relations are enhancing rapidly: “We will soon move to a new level of our contractual relationship, as we will soon start negotiating an Association Agreement. I hope that part of this new agreement will include also further economic integration through a Deep and Comprehensive free Trade Area”, said Štefan Füle in Yerevan.
In a press release issued today, European Friends of Armenia welcomed the EU support for Armenia and the reinforcement of the cooperation between Brussels and Yerevan.
During his visit in the Armenian capital, Commissioner Füle also expressed the EU readiness to assist Armenia and Turkey in the regulation of trans-border issues after the protocols enter into force. “The two protocols on the normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations should be ratified in reasonable timeframe and without pre-conditions, said Füle on a joint press conference with the Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan. Similar official statement of support was also published by EU Foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
The Euro-Armenian Federation for Justice and Democracy declared that the EU position is positive sign for both Armenia and Turkey and the EU should continue its engagement in the normalisation process.
Today the Foreign Affairs Committee of the European Parliament voted the report "The need for an EU strategy for the South Caucasus." The Members of the European Parliament also stated that Armenia and the other countries of the region are with strategic importance for EU.
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