The Association Agreement to reflect strong ties between Armenia and the EU

Negotiations over the Association Agreement between Armenia and EU launched today in Yerevan. Armenian deputy foreign minister Karine Ghazinyan and the director of the European Commission’s Unit for Relations with Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia Gunnar Wiegand at a joint news conference today stated that effective launch has been given to the negotiations.

“The agreement that will be signed as a result of the work will reflect the strong ties between the parties and common values. It will include guidelines of cooperation in security and foreign policy, democratic, economic integration, human rights, energy spheres,” K. Ghazinyan pointed out.

The goal of the agreement is to boost the political association with the EU, promote the economic integration, balancing legislation and standards in accordance with the European ones and ensuring entrance to bilateral markets.

The negotiations will be held in the formats of plenary sessions and task groups. Today the parties agreed to conduct negotiations in thematic groups: first – political dialogue and reforms, foreign and security policy cooperation; second one – justice, freedoms and security and the third one economic, financial, cultural, energy cooperation.

The second round of negotiations will take place in Brussels, October 10-11.

The director of the European Commission’s Unit for Relations with Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia Gunnar Wiegand described the today’s launch as a step toward establishment of closer relations between the EU and Armenia.

The main goal of the partnership agreements is the establishment of more close political ties between the EU and the three South Caucasian countries and the gradual economic integration. The negotiations process is based on democracy, rule of law, respectful attitude toward human rights, commitment of the parties to applying fair governance.

Gunnar Wiegand expressed hope that soon it will be possible that the task groups start working in 12 spheres as an ambitions timeframe has been agreed. Starting from September once in a week one video-conference will be held.

There is a long process before signing of the agreement. It is difficult to say how much the negotiations will last. “The important thing is that the negotiations have launched: we are ready to it and will exert all the efforts to bring the guidelines with the EU to a successful end,” Karine Ghazinyan.