Implementation of Armenia-EU action plan for 2012-2013 essential for Armenia: Artur Baghdasaryan
31.01.2012,
18:16
Implementation of Armenia-EU Action Plan for 2012-2013 is essential for Armenia to shift to a new stage of bilateral relations with the European Union, Artur Baghdasaryan, secretary of the National Security Council of Armenia, said today.
YEREVAN, January 31. /ARKA/. Implementation of Armenia-EU Action Plan for 2012-2013 is essential for Armenia to shift to a new stage of bilateral relations with the European Union, Artur Baghdasaryan, secretary of the National Security Council of Armenia, said today. Baghdasaryan chairs an interagency commission on coordination of cooperation of Armenian government agencies with European structures.
"The Acton Plan was designed with the active participation of all government agencies of Armenia. It includes about 160 actions in six priority areas - politics, justice, freedom and security, infrastructure, humanitarian cooperation, environment, health and social security as well financial, economic and trade cooperation," he said Tuesday at a meeting of the interagency commission in Yerevan that was convened to discuss the Action Plan. According to him, the new Action Plan will pay greater attention to cooperation in energy and humanitarian spheres.
"By the end of February we will have a document designed to help accelerate the implementation of the Plan of Action for European integration," Baghdasaryan said.
Noting that the Action Plan for 2009 -2011 was successful, he said the new Action Plan for 2012-2013 is an intermediate document prior to signing the Association Agreement. He also expressed hope that in 2012 Armenia will move closer to the signing the Association Agreement and the launch of negotiations with the EU on deep and comprehensive free trade area and visa facilitation.
In turn, the head of EU delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Traian Hristea noted that in 2011 Armenia made significant progress in reforms, adding that the EU is ready to continue to provide assistance to Armenia. He also stressed that the holding of free and fair parliamentary elections in May will be important to further Armenia-EU relations. The Action Plan will be discussed by the Security Council and then sent to president’s approval.-0-
