Updates
Press releases
06
11, 2008
Working visit of President Serzh Sargsyan to Brussels
In the framework of his working visit to Brussels, on November 6, President Serzh Sargsyan met with the President of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pottering.
At the meeting discussed were issues pertaining to Armenia’s Eurointegration process, recent developments in the region, and current tendencies in the Armenian-Turkish relations.
The parties stressed that the recent events in the region have proved once again that the existing problems must be solved through exclusively peaceful means and underscored the inadmissibility of military actions.
The sides noted the importance of the achievements of Armenia in the implementation of the Action Plan in the framework of the New European Neighborhood policy. Serzh Sargsyan and Hans-Gert Pottering spoke also about the NK peace process.
The President of Armenia reminded of the resolution adopted by the European Parliament back in 1988, in which the EP expressed its support for the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh for self-determination. The two sides reiterated the necessity of solving the problem exclusively through peaceful means.
On November 6, President Serzh Sargsyan had a working dinner with Dr. Benita Ferrero-Valdner, Commissioner of the EU, Head of External Relations. President Serzh Sargsyan presented the process of implementation of the Action Plan in Armenia. The two sides discussed a wide range of issues related to the situation in the region, economic and political developments in Armenia, and efforts aimed at Armenia’s Eurointegration. Dr. Benita Ferrero-Valdner spoke in detail about the new Eastern neighborhood initiative and presented the new projects of the European Union aimed at assisting Armenia. The two sides expressed hope that activities of the new EU group of experts in Armenia would provide a new impetus to the implementation of the Action Plan. On November 6, Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Dr. Benita Ferrero-Valdner, Commissioner of the EU, Head of External Relations, signed the agreement on the dispatch of a high-level expert group to facilitate the process of reforms in Armenia.
Serzh Sargsyan met also with Ives Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium. The President of Armenia noted that Belgium is the leading trade partner of Armenia among the EU member states. For a small country such as Armenia, a turnover exceeding 250 mln US dollars, with its considerable share coming from diamond processing, is significant. The President of Armenia and the Prime Minister of Belgium agreed to expand cooperation in other areas as well.
According to President Sargsyan, Armenia is striving to get closer to the EU and with this regard the bilateral relations with the EU member states are also of great importance.
The Prime Minister of Belgium expressed readiness to support the reformation process in Armenia. At the meeting discussed were also issues related to the regional developments. S. Sargsyan presented Armenia’s position on the resolution of the NK conflict. The President of Armenia invited the Prime Minister of Belgium to visit Armenia. The invitation was accepted with gratitude.
Mr. Ives Leterme mentioned the significant role of the Armenian-Belgian community in promoting the relations between the two countries.
At the conclusion of his working visit to Belgium, President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with Jose Manuel Barrozo, President of the European Commission.
Discussed were the EC-Armenia as well as the regional issues. At the briefing, which took place after the meeting, the President of the European Commission said, “We have had a very interesting meeting with the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan. I congratulated President Sargsyan on his initiatives related to the reforms in the economic area. We express readiness to assist Armenia politically as well as financially in the implementation of the Action Plan.” He also noted with satisfaction that in order to facilitate the reforms, the EU would be soon dispatching a group of experts to Armenia. Mr. Barrozo expressed hope that the mission would have a practical and a positive impact on the process of reformation.
According to Jose Manuel Barrozo, the European Union wishes to contribute to the establishment of peace in the region, to enforce there peace and prosperity. “This is an important region for the European Union, and will spare no effort to make good of our promise,” stressed the President of EC and added that he was pleased by Turkey’s positive response to Armenia’s initiative aimed at the establishing peace in Caucasus. In his words, the ongoing dialogue between Yerevan and Ankara could have a positive impact on the security issues in the region, including that of the resolution of the NK conflict.
The President of Armenia underlined that Armenia was striving to get closer to Europe and on this road looks for partners, and, of course, for the assistance of the European Commission. “We want our European partners to create more favorable conditions for trade, we want our partners to see our economic progress, we want to be granted the status of a county with market economy, we want the citizens of Armenia and the EU member states to be able to communicate more easily, we would like the European Commission to create a subcommission to address the existing issues,” stressed President Serzh Sargsyan.
The parties spoke also about the development of alternative transportation routes in the region.
At the meeting discussed were issues pertaining to Armenia’s Eurointegration process, recent developments in the region, and current tendencies in the Armenian-Turkish relations.
The parties stressed that the recent events in the region have proved once again that the existing problems must be solved through exclusively peaceful means and underscored the inadmissibility of military actions.
The sides noted the importance of the achievements of Armenia in the implementation of the Action Plan in the framework of the New European Neighborhood policy. Serzh Sargsyan and Hans-Gert Pottering spoke also about the NK peace process.
The President of Armenia reminded of the resolution adopted by the European Parliament back in 1988, in which the EP expressed its support for the right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh for self-determination. The two sides reiterated the necessity of solving the problem exclusively through peaceful means.
On November 6, President Serzh Sargsyan had a working dinner with Dr. Benita Ferrero-Valdner, Commissioner of the EU, Head of External Relations. President Serzh Sargsyan presented the process of implementation of the Action Plan in Armenia. The two sides discussed a wide range of issues related to the situation in the region, economic and political developments in Armenia, and efforts aimed at Armenia’s Eurointegration. Dr. Benita Ferrero-Valdner spoke in detail about the new Eastern neighborhood initiative and presented the new projects of the European Union aimed at assisting Armenia. The two sides expressed hope that activities of the new EU group of experts in Armenia would provide a new impetus to the implementation of the Action Plan. On November 6, Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Dr. Benita Ferrero-Valdner, Commissioner of the EU, Head of External Relations, signed the agreement on the dispatch of a high-level expert group to facilitate the process of reforms in Armenia.
Serzh Sargsyan met also with Ives Leterme, Prime Minister of Belgium. The President of Armenia noted that Belgium is the leading trade partner of Armenia among the EU member states. For a small country such as Armenia, a turnover exceeding 250 mln US dollars, with its considerable share coming from diamond processing, is significant. The President of Armenia and the Prime Minister of Belgium agreed to expand cooperation in other areas as well.
According to President Sargsyan, Armenia is striving to get closer to the EU and with this regard the bilateral relations with the EU member states are also of great importance.
The Prime Minister of Belgium expressed readiness to support the reformation process in Armenia. At the meeting discussed were also issues related to the regional developments. S. Sargsyan presented Armenia’s position on the resolution of the NK conflict. The President of Armenia invited the Prime Minister of Belgium to visit Armenia. The invitation was accepted with gratitude.
Mr. Ives Leterme mentioned the significant role of the Armenian-Belgian community in promoting the relations between the two countries.
At the conclusion of his working visit to Belgium, President Serzh Sargsyan held a meeting with Jose Manuel Barrozo, President of the European Commission.
Discussed were the EC-Armenia as well as the regional issues. At the briefing, which took place after the meeting, the President of the European Commission said, “We have had a very interesting meeting with the President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan. I congratulated President Sargsyan on his initiatives related to the reforms in the economic area. We express readiness to assist Armenia politically as well as financially in the implementation of the Action Plan.” He also noted with satisfaction that in order to facilitate the reforms, the EU would be soon dispatching a group of experts to Armenia. Mr. Barrozo expressed hope that the mission would have a practical and a positive impact on the process of reformation.
According to Jose Manuel Barrozo, the European Union wishes to contribute to the establishment of peace in the region, to enforce there peace and prosperity. “This is an important region for the European Union, and will spare no effort to make good of our promise,” stressed the President of EC and added that he was pleased by Turkey’s positive response to Armenia’s initiative aimed at the establishing peace in Caucasus. In his words, the ongoing dialogue between Yerevan and Ankara could have a positive impact on the security issues in the region, including that of the resolution of the NK conflict.
The President of Armenia underlined that Armenia was striving to get closer to Europe and on this road looks for partners, and, of course, for the assistance of the European Commission. “We want our European partners to create more favorable conditions for trade, we want our partners to see our economic progress, we want to be granted the status of a county with market economy, we want the citizens of Armenia and the EU member states to be able to communicate more easily, we would like the European Commission to create a subcommission to address the existing issues,” stressed President Serzh Sargsyan.
The parties spoke also about the development of alternative transportation routes in the region.