Armenia and EU actually complete talks on Association Agreement

YEREVAN, March 20. / ARKA /. Armenia and the European Union have actually completed negotiations over the Association Agreement, a deputy Armenian foreign minister Zohrab Mnatsakanian said today to a news conference.

He said the 12th round of negotiations on the Association Agreement was held on March 19-20 in Yerevan.  “All provisions of the document have already been discussed, and I do not think another round of talks will be needed," he said.

Mr. Mnatsakanian said Armenia remains committed to its policy of European integration, and expects to initial the document at the next summit of Eastern Partnership Program in Vilnius, which will take place on 28-29 November 2013. He added, however, that the completion of the negotiations does not mean the end of the process. The negotiations will be followed by procedural process.

He said the document should be discussed in EU member countries, be translated into the languages of member states, and go through additional legal checks, etc..

Stressing that one of the main elements of the association agreement is creation of a deep and comprehensive free trade area with the EU, Mnatsakanian said negotiations on it are also proceeding very effectively.

The Association Agreement  will substitute the agreement on partnership and cooperation between Armenia and EU. It is aimed at strengthening relations between Armenia and the European Union in different spheres, particularly in the sphere of foreign policy, democracy, economic integration, movement of people and energy.  The EU is in similar negotiations with Azerbaijan, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.

The Eastern Partnership Program aims to help these former Soviet republics build closer ties with EU. Under it they   are to receive 600 million euros by 2013 from EU  to  strengthen their  state institutions, border control and assist small businesses. -0-