Tuesday, 19 April 2005
Today RA Prime Minister A. Margaryan has received Mr. Richard Weber, Chief of the Directorate for Europe, South Mediterranean, Near East and Neighborhood Policy Countries of the Office of European Cooperation, who was accompanied by Head of the EC Mission in Georgia and Armenia.
By mentioning that a gradual integration in the European institutions and system of values is a top priority on Armenia's foreign policy agenda, the Prime Minister said to be satisfied with the establishment of qualitatively new relationship with the European Union as of June, 2004, in terms of Armenia's inclusion in the European Neighborhood Policy together with the other South Caucasian States. He expressed his appreciation of the technical assistance extended our country by the European Commission that was crucial to the implementation of market-oriented and democratic reforms in Armenia. Mr. A. Margaryan noted that by a GoA decision a commission had been set up to coordinate the national action plan development activities under the Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed between the the Republic of Armenia and the European Union. Relevant task forces were established to provide for expert support in the legislative harmonization efforts. Within the framework of TACIS program, operational is the AEPLAC (Armenian-European Economic Policy and Legal Advice Center), with the assistance of which the national plan of action will be submitted to the GoA for approval. According to to the Prime Minister, a considerable amount of work had been done that was due for completion later this year. Mr. A. Margaryan expressed his high appreciation of the decision taken by the EU to proceed to the design of a EU-Armenia joint action plan based on the findings of the Country Report for Armenia, which was published by the European Commission in March, 2005. He stressed that strengthened cooperation with the EU and a greater involvement in the regional programs would be conducive to the establishment of political stability, promotion of economic growth and conflict settlement.
By thanking the Prime Minister for the warm reception shown to the delegation during their stay in Armenia, Mr. Weber expressed satisfaction with Armenia's recent progress, including the design of the national plan of action, the legislative harmonization efforts and the level of involvement in the regional programs. He said that Armenia was seen as a key actor in the European Neighborhood Policy. Mr. Weber advised that his delegation pursued the goal of discussing a broad range of issues with relation to the second stage of the EU-Armenia cooperation, the new programs and the corresponding action. According to him, the cooperation format was due to be broadened, which meant a greater technical assistance to Armenia in the area of policy design for the development of various fields and implementation of regional and other programs, in particular.
In welcoming the idea of boosting the exchanges with Armenia through the national action plan, Mr. A. Margaryan informed that, for its part, the GoA was prepared to proceed as soon as possible to the design of the Action Plan which was in the process of preparation in our country.
