YEREVAN, JULY 6, NOYAN TAPAN. Since April members of the European Union advisory group have been holding consultations in more than 10 RA Ministries on the reforms carried out in the country. The July 3 joint meeting of the group and AEPLAC commission was dedicated to summing up group activity's first three months. According to group head Rolf Boehnke, the group submitted a draft anti-corruption program On Preventing Corruption, worked out a document on public reforms, presented proposals on public services, national actions plan on human rights. The group provides advisory assistance in the direction of creation of a Diplomatic Academy in Armenia, Armenia's joining the European Union Free Trade Agreement. It also works in the direction of raising the efficiency of the tax and customs systems. RA National Security Council Secretary Artur Baghdasarian said that the 2009-2011 program envisages implementation of concrete programs and events in nearly 200 directions. 20 interdepartmental working groups have been already formed, which are engaged in carrying out reforms. He emphasized that the Armenian authorities expect more active involvement of EU experts in this work. Head of the European Commission delegation in Armenia Raul de Luzenberger said that concrete results have been achieved after three months' work, and it is envisaged to implement a number of programs in the future, as well. The Ambassador of Lithuania presiding in EU, Giedrius Apukas attached importance to development of administrative resources at the ministries, which will contribute to country's prosperity in the future. UN Resident Coordinator in Armenia Consuelo Vidal gave assurance that the program is very important from point of view of achieving the goals of the European Union Neighborhood Policy.

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