EU to continue assisting Armenia, ambassador Hristea

YEREVAN, November 11. / ARKA /. The head of the EU’s Delegation to Armenia, ambassador Traian Hristea, said today the EU will continue to assist Armenia after its Advisory Group held today its last meeting, adding also that Armenia will be benefiting from policies and programs developed with the help of the Advisory Group. The last meeting of the Advisory Group was attended by the chief of Armenian president’s staff Vigen Sargsyan and Traian Hristea. According to Mr. Hristea, the results of the Advisory Group’s work in various areas are impressive. Mr. Hristea listed, particularly, a simplified procedure for Armenian citizens to obtain visas to EU countries, a plan of action designed for the protection of human rights, intensive cooperation with the National Assembly of Armenia, the expansion of inter-parliamentary cooperation, the work on the copyright and sanitary and phytosanitary control laws. He said EU’s new action plan for Armenia designed for 2014-17 relies heavily on these achievements. He added it is aimed at developing the private sector, the reform of the justice system, migration and human rights. He added that much will depend on Armenia’s process of integration with the Eurasian Economic Union and only after that the scope of bilateral cooperation between the EU and Armenia could be determined more clearly. He said it is important for the EU so that it can systemize its future cooperation with Armenia. He said also whatever the aspirations of Armenia are, in the reform process it is important for EU to understand exactly what direction Armenia moves in, as well as see the results of the reforms. The EU Advisory Group has worked in Armenia since 2009 and has provided advice on the implementation of the Action Plan for the European Neighborhood Policy, as well as for strengthening the democratic and economic structures. -0-