Edward Nalbandian met the Commissioner of EU Enlargement

On April 19 in Brussels Edward Nalbandian, Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cecilia Malmström, EU Commisioner on Home Affairs and Rory Montgomery, Representative of the EU Irish Presidency signed the Agreement of readmission between Armenia and EU.

During his address at the signing ceremony Edward Nalbandian noted “Armenia has a positive record in implementing readmission agreements with more than a dozen European countries and even with those with whom such agreements are not in place we are implementing the readmission provisions in a good faith on an ad hoc basis. With this agreement we are putting in place safe and orderly readmission procedures between Armenia and the EU.”

Edward Nalbandian noted that in October of 2011 the Joint Declaration on the Mobility Partnership was signed with the EU aimed at better management of legal and labour migration. “Cooperation between Armenia and European Union in the area of mobility, migration and enhancing the people to people contacts has advanced considerably over the last years”; said the Foreign Minister of Armenia.

Concluding his speech Edward Nalbandian stated “We are looking forward to the soonest ratification of visa facilitation and readmission Agreements by European Union, which will create an opportunity to start negotiations on visa liberalization.”
On the same day Edward Nalbandian met Štefan Füle, European Commissioner on Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy.

Edward Nalbandian and Štefan Füle referred to the already signed visa facilitation regime, the agreements of readmission, as well as the Association Agreement being in its final stage, the negotiations on the establishment of a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area Agreement and they expressed satisfaction with the efficiency of the process.

The sides discussed the preparations for the convening of the conference of donors to support the reforms in Armenia.

The agenda of the negotiations included issues concerning the organization of the meeting of Foreign Ministers of member countries of the Eastern Partnership, that will take place in September of this year.