On April 6, Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian had a meeting with the delegation headed by Štefan Füle, the European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy.

Welcoming the Commissioner’s first visit to Armenia Minister Nalbandian mentioned that it creates wide opportunity for the discussion of different issues existing in Armenia-EU agenda and clarifying the steps for the further cooperation on the eve of the visit of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan to the EU institutions.

They both stressed with satisfaction that today Armenia-EU relations are in the stage of progressive development and the cooperation with the EU has been put on a qualitatively new level by the launch of the Eastern Partnership. The sides expressed hope that the bases of the Eastern Partnership will be strengthened and the cooperation will be extended within bilateral, as well as multilateral formats of the Eastern Partnership.

Commissioner Füle thanked for warm reception and said that he is pleased to visit Armenia. He emphasized that regular visits of the EU officials to the Caucasus region on different levels are the evidence of the importance given to the Eastern neighbours.
 Štefan Füle highly appreciated the activity of the EU Advisory group in Armenia, which by his definition has its important contribution in the process of European integration.

Edward Nalbandian attached importance to the scheduled launch of the negotiations on the Association Agreement with the EU, the signing of comprehensive Free Trade Agreement within the frameworks of the Eastern Partnership. Minister Nalbandian stressed the importance of the visa facilitation regime with the EU countries given by Armenia mentioning that Armenia has already undertaken a number of important steps in that direction. Armenian Foreign Minister also emphasized that Armenia has Readmission Agreements with a number of EU countries and is ready to sign such an agreement with the EU.

Commissioner Füle informed that today the issue of the mandate for Association agreements is in the final stage of EU internal discussions and supposedly, by the end of April 2010 the EU Council will approve the negotiation mandate of the Association Agreements with the South Caucasus countries. In regard with the facilitation of visa regime Commissioner Füle said that it is one of the main goals of the Eastern Partnership and the European side is committed to the realization of that goal.

In the course of the meeting, the two also discussed international and regional issues. On the guest’s request, Minister Nalbandian presented the recent developments in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) negotiation process.

Touching upon the Armenian-Turkish relations Minister Nalbandian thanked for the unconditional support and constructive approach of the EU towards the normalization process. Within that context, Commissioner Füle reiterated the EU support for the process and expressed hope that the sides would ratify and implement the Protocols signed about six months ago without preconditions.

After the meeting, the joint press conference of Edward Nalbandian and Štefan Füle took place.