Monday, 10 December 2007
On a working visit to Brussels, RA Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan met with EU Secretary-General Javier Solana earlier this morning.
Welcoming the Armenian Prime Minister to Brussels, Javier Solana mentioned that the visit came at the right time as presidential elections were awaiting Armenia. The EU Secretary-General said that more than once he happened to discuss questions relating to the development of EU-Armenia cooperation with the President of the Republic of Armenia with whom he maintained warm personal relationship. Mr. Solana made a point of holding the upcoming presidential elections in line with the international standards. Emphasizing the need of having a delegation from the OSCE DIHRO to attend these elections, he asked the Prime Minister about the ongoing electoral processes in Armenia.
Well aware that Javier Solana and Robert Kocharyan were on friendly terms, first of all, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan conveyed RA President's greetings to the Secretary-General of the European Union. By noting that he had so far been responsible for national security and defense affaires within the government of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan said that by taking a premiership glance at the EU-Armenia Action Plan in the wake of his appointment to the post of Prime Minister, he was able to satisfy himself once again that the logic of the program was matching that of our country's development in respect of both internal and external policies. Serzh Sargsyan stressed that elections as part of the democratic process were among the key challenges facing Armenia: "We are eager of holding good elections so as they may be estimated as such not only by foreigners, but also by our nationals," -the Prime Minister has said. He mentioned that the parliamentary elections of last May were given a favorable assessment and, therefore, Armenia was interested in improving on this achievement during the presidential elections. Among the major problems faced by our country, Serzh Sargsyan mentioned the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the normalization of relations with Turkey, the implementation of second-generation reforms and added that they were susceptible to be addressed only by the candidate elected through internationally-recognized elections.
Concurrent with the Prime Minister of Armenia as to the importance of the forthcoming elections, Javier Solana expressed hope that they will meet the international standards and offered the assistance of the European Union in this matter.
The parties have further discussed regional issues, including the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Serzh Sargsyan reiterated Armenia's adherence to the peaceful resolution of this conflict. As he said, while warlike statements have grown in frequency on the part of Azerbaijan, yet there remain good possibilities for a negotiated settlement as there is no alternative thereto. Javier Solana agreed that the armed resolution of the conflict was inadmissible and that the European Union was determined to prevent the developments from aggravating to such an extent. The Prime Minister of Armenia said that, supported by the European Union, Armenia-Turkey relationship, too, could be settled and that our country suggested establishing diplomatic ties without preconditions.
Javier Solana emphasized that the forthcoming elections should preclude any regression in the development of the country and in the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister of Armenia spoke of the possibility of shutting down the Armenian NPP by the year 2016. He advised that the government had approved a timetable for NPP decommissioning which is quite a costly undertaking. Serzh Sargsyan further advised that the RA government had established and partly financed a special fund to that effect. Nevertheless, the task seems to be beyond our country's possibilities and Armenia will need support on the part of the European Union. Javier Solana promised to think about the ways of assistance.
The EU Secretary-General said that after the presidential elections, the cooperation between the European Union and the Republic of Armenia will focus upon the implementation of EU-Armenia action plan under the European Neighborhood Policy, as well as other key areas high on the bilateral agenda.
In conclusion, Javier Solana wished every success to Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan and to our country.
The talks with EU Secretary-General Javier Solana were followed by the RA Prime Minister's meeting with EU Commissioner for Science and Research Janes Potochnik.
Mr. Potochnik said to be happy for the opportunity of discussing with the Prime Minister of Armenia questions of research development and added that he was aware of Armenia's focus on the development of the scientific potential. He emphasized that research-related reforms in Armenia should comply with the priorities of the European Neighborhood Policy and the Framework program.
The parties have agreed that there were no alternatives to the knowledge-based economy. Prioritizing the deepening of EU-Armenia relationship in the scientific field, Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan suggested Armenia's greater involvement in all the scientific sub-programs of the European Union coupled with the promotion of Armenian scientists' active participation in major European scientific projects. In this respect, Serzh Sargsyan stressed the need of commercializing scientific thought in Armenia. To expedite this process, the parties have agreed to field a special mission of the commissioner to carry out an independent expertise of scientific achievements in Armenia.
"We are determined to drastically increase investment into science and research every year and, in this light, any consultancy and streamlining provided in line with the European standards would serve a valuable expert opinion to Armenia. Science seems to have a good outlook for development in our country as there is the necessary human capital, many achievements in need of support, and I expect you to be among the advocates of this process," - the Prime Minister noted while presenting the recent research-oriented steps taken by the Armenian government.
Mr. Potochnik said that he shared the Prime Minister's concern for making the best possible use of the scientific potential available in the Armenian Diaspora through the involvement of those scientists of Armenian origin having made serious contributions in different countries of the world.
On the same day, RA Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan met with Chairman of the European People's Party (EPP) Wilfred Martens.
The parties have discussed issues concerning the pace of democratic processes in Armenia, the party system applicable in our country and the place of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) therein, as well as the possibilities for an eventual EPP-RPA cooperation. Reference was also made of regional problems, the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the current status and the outlook for Armenia's relations with neighboring countries. Serzh Sargsyan and Wilfred Martens have also spoken about EU-Armenia cooperation and the prospects for the development of bilateral relationship, the progress in the European integration efforts. In this context, the need of strengthening linkages between individual parties along with the furtherance of interstate ties was emphasized on either side. Then, the interlocutors touched upon the practicalities concerning the RPA's endowment with a status of observer within the EPP. Mr. Martens noted that such a status would allow the RPA to become a member of the political faction of the EPP within the PACE.
The Prime Minister's next meeting was with NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer. "Now I can state positively that we have witnessed a serious progress in the RA-NATO relations and I must thank you personally for your assistance and efforts", -the NATO Secretary-General said at the start of the meeting.
In reply, the Prime Minister of Armenia assured that the high dynamics of cooperation development will be maintained by placing a special focus upon the implementation of the Individual Partnership Action Plan and expanding Armenia's involvement in the international peace-making actions with NATO participation:
