“We welcome Armenia’s efforts aimed at making trade more fervent, as well as strengthening the structural and administrative capacities,” announced President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso during a March 15 joint press conference with RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. The [ress service of the Armenian government also quoted Barroso as mentioning that the EU is strengthening its ties with Armenia within the framework of the Eastern Partnership Plan. “After discussing these issues with Armenia’s Prime Minister, I got the impression that our Armenian friends also view them as a priority and that is important for the development of business and investments,” mentioned the EC President. Barroso said the EU expresses support to Armenia in terms of assisting in the economic reforms through advisory. “Of course, it is important for Armenia to respect its obligations since there is a need for further deepening of relations and the promotion of democratic reforms,” said Barroso. “As far as progress with our partner countries and Armenia is concerned, I am pleased to announce that we are going to start negotiations on facilitating the visa regime and that will further facilitate Armenians’ travel through our territories,” said Barroso. According to the same source, the sides also discussed regional issues. “The EU supports the peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which will be based on the principles of the exclusion of applying force, territorial integrity and nations’ right to self-determination. We are concerned with the clashes taking place in the region. The EU supports the OSCE Minsk Group and continues to develop its activities in the region in the context of friendly ties,” mentioned the EC President. According to him, the EU continues to support the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. The EC President mentioned that they continue to encourage the process to see that historical event take place. In response to the question regarding the EU’s position on Turkey striving for EU integration while having a closed border with Armenia, Barroso said: “Taking into account the economic blockade and the closed borders, we are indeed discussing this issue with Turkey. Turkey and Armenia must work with the spirit of partnership and overcome the difficulties through dialogue. The EU wishes to see relations in the general neighborhood, which will be more stable and constructive.” During the joint press conference, Tigran Sargsyan has said the negotiations took place in a very warm atmosphere. “We are pleased to mention that our cooperation is successful and the purpose of our visit is to bring a new sweep to the bilateral cooperation,” said Sargsyan. Tigran Sargsyan informed that the sides first discussed the damages that the global economic crisis caused to Armenia’s economy and the reforms. “The EU’s assistance truly helped confront the difficulties we faced while passing that hardship and now we face the issue of bringing a new sweep to our programs. Those programs, first and foremost, are the comprehensive cooperation plans with the EU. We are certain that in 2011, we will be able to register success in all spheres and we will be ready to start talks on the Deep and Comprehensive Trade Agreement,” said the RA Prime Minister, thanking the EU partners for their assistance. Does Armenia have any expectations for loans or other expectations from the EU in addition to the means envisaged by the partnership plans? In response, the RA Prime Minister mentioned that he has presented the EC President with the reform plan and the desire to bring a new sweep to the reforms. “Of course, we understand that it is necessary to strengthen the capacity of reforms. On the other hand, it is also necessary to restrain the risks that are revealed during the implementation of those reforms. In the case of implementing daring reforms in taxing and customs, we have asked our partners to create a buffering fund, which can provide macroeconomic stability in case of the emergence of problems with tax collection. We have agreed to discuss this issue with European experts and present our plans for reforms,” said Tigran Sargsyan.

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