Van Rompuy Sees ‘Vital Role’ For Civil Society In Armenia’s Reform A

VAN ROMPUY SEES ‘VITAL ROLE’ FOR CIVIL SOCIETY IN ARMENIA’S REFORM AND PEACE PROCESSES

ENPI Info Centre

July 23 2012

The President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, has stressed
the “vital role” that civil society can play in Armenia’s reform and
peace processes in a speech at the ‘Armenia in Europe’ conference
held in Yerevan earlier this month. The event was organised by the
Armenian National platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society
Forum (CSF) and Centre for European Studies (CES).

“In all areas your help can make a crucial difference, in particular
in monitoring commitments and results. We count on you to hold our
upcoming bilateral agreement to the highest standard – its success
depends also on your involvement!” he said in concluding remarks.

Van Rompuy pointed to three main areas where civil society has an
“essential” role when it comes to serving the cause of relations
between Armenia and the EU: monitoring the progress of reform,
encouraging accountability and deepening expertise.

As for monitoring the progress of reform, he noted that there are
a common set of goals and commitments at the heart of the relation
between Armenia and the EU.

“We depend to a great extent on civil society to map progress on these
agendas, whether on human rights, press freedom, higher education
reform or any other area. We should not forget that these inputs
cover economic as well as political domains: your work is absolutely
fundamental to our understanding of areas such as the business and
investment climate or the tax system. Your efforts feed each year
into our own progress reports,” said Van Rompuy.

With regard to the development of expertise, the President of the
European Council said that “we are setting up dialogues, supporting
reforms and providing financial and technical assistance on a great
number of fronts, from the environment, to agriculture, to public
health.”

Van Rompuy also drew attention to the role civil society could play
in resolving the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

“Ladies and gentlemen, in my address to Parliament one of my core
messages will be that Armenia’s fulfillment of its enormous potential,
including in the political association with the EU, depends upon
achieving medium to long-term stability and predictability. This
can only be achieved by eliminating the threat of conflict, and
addressing the consequences of previous conflict as well. Here
also civil society has an important role to play, by encouraging and
serving the peaceful resolution of the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh,”
he said. (EU Neighbourhood Info)

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress