14/06/2010 (Agence Europe) - The EU is ready to conclude agreements for facilitating visas and readmission with Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In the long term, the EU has not ruled out the complete elimination of these obligations on the condition that these countries respect strict conditions. In the conclusions adopted on Monday, 14 June, ministers affirmed that “the EU stands ready to promote mobility of citizens of the South Caucasus and other Eastern Partnership countries through visa facilitation and readmission agreements, and once these are successfully concluded and implemented, moving towards a controlled process taking gradual steps towards visa-liberalisation and a long-term goal”. The Commission is being urged to elaborate a “plan” by the end of the year on how to push forward cooperation in this domain. The Foreign Affairs Council also welcomed the fact that negotiations with the three countries of the South Caucasus would be launched in July, in view of concluding association agreements. (H.B./transl.fl)