EU AND ARMENIA AFFIRM COMMITMENT TO COMMON VALUES AND PLEDGE TO DEVELOP COOPERATION WITHIN THE EASTERN PARTNERSHIP

ENPI Info Centre, EU
Nov 29 2013

29-11-2013

The EU and Armenia have confirmed their commitment to “further develop
and strengthen comprehensive cooperation in all areas of mutual
interest within the Eastern Partnership framework”. Acknowledging
that they would not proceed with the initialing of an Association
Agreement, they agreed in a joint statement on the need to update
the EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan.

The statement, issued by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and
Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian at the end of the Eastern
Partnership Summit in Vilnius today, said the EU and Armenia enjoyed
close links: “Based on common values, both sides are committed to
further cooperation aimed at the continuous improvement of democratic
institutions and judiciary, the promotion of human rights and rule of
law, good governance, the fight against corruption, the strengthening
of the civil society, the further improvement of the framework for
enhanced trade and investments, the continued implementation of the
mobility partnership and increased sectoral cooperation.”

The statement added that, “based on their common endeavour to build
upon the existing framework of cooperation, the EU and Armenia stress
the importance of revisiting the basis for their relations”.

“The EU and Armenia acknowledge that they have completed negotiations
on an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free
Trade Area, but will not proceed with its initialling due to Armenia’s
new international commitments. They agree on the need to update the
EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan,” the joint statement concluded.

Earlier, the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy
had welcomed “Armenia’s declared wish to take forward the relations
with the European Union in all possible areas without prejudice
to commitments under the Customs Union [with Russia]. Both of us
acknowledge the importance of the work carried out in almost four
years of negotiations and the positive impact that these negotiations
have had. We will reflect jointly on a possible way forward for our
relations.” (EU Neighbourhood Info)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress