Armenia-EU political consultations held in Brussels
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 10, NOYAN TAPAN. Armenia-EU political consultations
at the level of the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC) Troika
took place on December 9 in Brussels. Armenia’s delegation was headed
by head of the RA representation in EU, Ambassador Avet Adonts, EU’s
delegation by representative of EU chairmanship, Ambassador of Sweden
to PSC Olof Skoog.
During the consultation the sides discussed issues regarding political
cooperation between Armenia and the European Union. When discussing
Armenia’s domestic developments the sides touched upon RA government’s
efforts aimed at mitigating world economic and financial crisis’
impact on Armenia’s economy and its consequences. In this context it
was mentioned that EU had made a decision to allocate macroeconomic
assistance of 100m euros (35m euro’s grant and 65m euro’s credit) to
Armenia. To carry out the first allocations the European Commission’s
mission will arrive in Armenia in 2010 February and will discuss the
issue of signing a memorandum of mutual understanding.
Attaching importance to the measures undertaken by the RA authorities
to improve the home political situation the European side expressed
readiness to continue assisting Armenia in the issue of carrying out
reforms. The work of EU advisors’ group was considered as important in
that context.
Excluding a military solution of the Nagorno Karabakh problem EU
reaffirmed its assistance to problem’s settlement by the OSCE Minsk
Group format on the basis of the Madrid proposals, as well as
assistance to the normalization process of Armenian-Turkish relations
attaching importance to quick ratification of the protocols.
When discussing the possibilities given by Eastern Partnership the
sides touched upon the results of the ministerial conference held on
December 8 and the decision on the South Caucasus adopted by the EU
Council the same day. The issue of adoption of the mandate of signing
an association agreement with Armenia is underway in EU Council’s
working groups at present. It is expected to be ready in the first
half of 2010.
According to the RA Foreign Ministry Press and Information Department,
issues regarding simplification of the entrance visa regime and
signing of a comprehensive free trade agreement were also discussed.