Increased tensions on contact line unacceptable to EU

The 11th session of Armenia- EU cooperation council was held in Brussels on Tuesday, December 7.

A delegation led by Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandyan left for the Belgian capital to participate in the meeting. The delegation comprised Deputy Ministers of Justice and Economy Nikolay Arustamyan and Mushegh Tumasyan and Head of Armenian Mission to EU, Ambassador Avet Adonts.

The EU delegation, comprising senior officials from various bodies, was headed by the Hungarian Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Zsolt Nemeth, and the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Stefan Fule.

The session discussed Armenia-EU cooperation agenda, as well as regional issues and further steps towards deepening collaboration, Armenian Foreign Ministry's press service reported.

Speaking of Armenia's efforts towards establishing closer ties with Europe, FM Nalbandyan said that Armenia-EU cooperation is one of Armenia's foreign policy priorities.

He also attached primary importance to EU advisory group's activities in that direction.

The parties also spoke of the negotiations within Eastern Partnership format, focusing on the possibilities of broadening collaboration frameworks.

They also exchanged views on conducting an active political dialogue over the negotiations within Associate Agreement frameworks and considered possibilities of creating a free trade zone and easing the visa regime.

Highly praising the collaboration with Armenia, the European high-ranking officials expressed willingness to assist in the current democratic and economic reforms.

Minister Nalbandyan said he was hopeful that the Associate Agreement will strengthen Armenia-EU ties in different spheres, including energy, transport communication and environment.

Upon the European side's request, Armenia's top diplomat also introduced the recent developments in Karabakh peace process. In that context, Hungarian diplomat Zsolt Nemeth said that incidents increasing tensions on Karabakh-Azerbaijan contact line are unacceptable to EU.

The EU senior officials also hailed the joint statement adopted at the OSCE summit in Astana.

They also reconfirmed their stance on the unconditional ratification and implementation of the Armenia-Turkey protocols signed in Zurich in 2009.

Armenian vice ministers of economy and justice spoke of the developments in their spheres, focusing on the government's economic policy and the judiciary reforms.

Before the session Armenian FM had a private meeting with Stefan Fule. The joint briefing of the two countries' officials followed the session.