Brussels, 22/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 20 July, European Council President Donald Tusk and Armenia's President Serzh Sargsyan underlined their resolve to strengthen cooperation between the EU and Armenia through a new bilateral agreement.
In autumn 2013, Armenia decided not to sign an association agreement with the EU, and to join the Eurasian Economic Union with Russia (see EUROPE 10914). Nevertheless, negotiations could soon be launched to set up a new legal agreement between the EU and Armenia.
“We have just finished the first stage of discussions successfully for a new comprehensive bilateral agreement (…) The EU member states are already discussing the mandate for these negotiations”, said Tusk, who added that “the EU wants to strengthen cooperation with Armenia in all areas of common interest”. He thus spoke about opening up markets, democratic reforms, regional integration, a better investment climate and sustainable development.
Sargsyan stated that his country wanted to strengthen its democratic institutions, human rights and the rule of law, and he wanted to cooperate with the EU in the areas mentioned by Tusk. “I can't imagine having reforms in Armenia without the experience and support of the EU”, he added. He stated that deepening relations was of mutual interest.
The two presidents also spoke about the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, a region over which Armenia and Azerbaijan are at loggerheads. Tusk once again reiterated that a peaceful solution to the conflict was a priority for the EU.
Sargsyan also called for the EU's relations with the countries of the Eastern Partnership (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine) to be more diversified so as to take better account of the specificities of each and of the different expectations as to the purpose of this partnership. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)