On December 8, the first meeting of Foreign Ministers of EU Eastern Partnership program took place in Brussels. The delegation of Armenia headed by Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian attended the meeting.

Foreign Ministers of the countries included in the Eastern Partnership program and EU member states, high-ranking representatives of the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament attended the session chaired by Carl Bildt, Foreign Minister of Sweden and President of EU Council of Foreign Ministers.

Foreign Ministers assessed the activities done within the frameworks of the new cooperation and outlined the steps that should be undertaken, as well as exchanged views on more effective use of the potential of the Partnership.

During the meeting Armenian Foreign Minister delivered a speech, mentioning that Armenia seeks to more strengthen relations with the European Union. By Minister Nalbandian’s definition the Partnership initiative provides additional opportunities for cooperation with the European Union in political, economic and cultural dimensions.

Touching upon the EU intention to establish qualitatively new legal relations with partner countries, Armenian Foreign Minister said that it reflects the positive result of cooperation established during the last ten years and expressed Armenia’s determination to work on drafting of Armenia-EU Association Agreement and the establishment of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement.

Stressing that all the initiatives provided by the Partnership program are important for Armenia and other partner countries, Minister Nalbandian drew attention on the importance of visa facilitation, as it will considerably promote contacts between the societies and people. “Educational, youth and cultural exchanges are very important and we should encourage initiatives which promote such processes”, said Armenian Foreign Minister.

Minister Nalbandian also attached importance to regional cooperation within the Eastern Partnership program, stressing that Azerbaijan’s refusal of the partnership set by the program could put at risk the eventual success of the Partnership. “Such a behavior by a partner state undermines the very idea of the Partnership, and the inaction of participation countries may devalue the idea even further”, stressed Minister Nalbandian.

In their speeches EU Foreign Ministers attached importance to the cooperation between the Partnership member states and the undertaking of specific steps.

As a successful example of cooperation, the European side mentioned the activity of EU Advisory Group in Armenia, which supports the implementation of reforms in legislative, executive and judicial areas.

During the meeting, it was decided to hold the next Ministerial meeting in the second half of 2010 and in 2011 - the next summit of Eastern Partnership.

The Ministerial meeting was followed by the joint press conference with participation of Foreign Ministers of Eastern Partnership member states, Carl Bildt, Foreign Minister of Sweden, and President of EU Council of Foreign Ministers and Benita Ferrero- Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy.