Armenia and European Union issue joint declaration after Vilnius summit

YEREVAN, November 29. / ARKA /. The EU and Armenia enjoy close links and reconfirm their commitment to further develop and strengthen comprehensive cooperation in all areas of mutual interest within the Eastern Partnership framework, the Republic of Armenia and the European Union said today in a joint declaration following the Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius, Lithuania.

According to the declaration, ‘Based on common values, both sides are committed to further cooperation aimed at the continuous improvement of democratic institutions and judiciary, the promotion of human rights and rule of law, good governance, the fight against corruption, the strengthening the civil society, the further improvement of the framework for enhanced trade and investments, the continued implementation of the mobility partnership and increased sectoral cooperation.”

‘Based on their common endeavour to build upon the existing framework of cooperation, the EU and Armenia stress the importance of revisiting the basis for their relations.

The EU and Armenia acknowledge that they have completed negotiations on an Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, but will not proceed with its initialling due to Armenia's new international commitments.   They agree on the need to update the EU-Armenia ENP Action Plan.” 

Armenia was supposed to initial an association agreement with EU at an Eastern Partnership summit in Vilnius November 28-29, however, on September 3 Armenian president announced after talks in Moscow with Russian president Putin that Armenia would join the Customs Union. -0-