Brussels, 10/01/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 9 January, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Füle called on Armenia to make progress in implementing the legislative framework before the presidential elections on 18 February. “Before the elections next month, further progress is needed in the implementation of the current legislative framework, as recommended by the OSCE/ODIHR”, he said at his meeting with the president of the Armenian National Assembly, Hovik Abrahamyan, adding that at the same time the long-term process of updating electoral legislation should be continued. “Successful - free and fair - elections really matter and are crucial for EU-Armenia relations; without them, the continuous reform which we want to see could be undermined”, he said.
Füle also highlighted the need for Armenia and Azerbaijan to seek a diplomatic solution to questions linked to the possibility of flights from Stepanakert airport in Nagorno-Karabakh, and to avoid action that is likely to feed the tension in the region. Cooperation between Erevan and Moscow was also discussed. Lastly, Füle welcomed Armenia's progress in the area of visas and the association agreement. (CG/transl.fl)