Thursday, 16 October 2008
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received a delegation led by Head of European Commission Foreign Relations General Directorate Eneko Landaburu. The delegation comprised Sesary Bardinsky who is responsible for Armenia with the European agency, Victor Andres Maldonado, Head of South Caucasus and Central Asia Department and Raul Lutzenberger, Head of EU Delegation in Armenia.
Eneko Landaburu said that the EU States and South Caucasian countries inclusive of Armenia have ushered in a new era of cooperation. The Head of EC Foreign Relations General Directorate offered to build up a new framework for multilateral collaboration well above maintaining the ongoing ties of cooperation. Mr. Landaburu said to be confident that the European Union and the Government of the Republic of Armenia share in the same values and that a prompt shift to a new level of relationship should to be made in order to push ahead on the path of stability, democracy and progress. In turn, the head of the RA government expressed determination not only to continue implementing the standing agreements, but also to proceed to new proposals.
According to Eneko Landaburu, the European Union wishes to stand by Armenia and other South Caucasian States during the modernization process by establishing a dialog with Western Europe and South Caucasus. The EU is prepared to assume a more active role in the region as this is supposed to boost democracy in South Caucasus.
Next, the parties discussed the negative effect experienced by Armenia's economy due to the well-known standoff between Georgia and Russia, as well as the eventual EU assistance in the light of the arrangements reached with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
In conclusion, the interlocutors touched upon regional security issues.
