Presidential election in Armenia to define further pace of relations with EU’ Traian Hristea says

YEREVAN, October 22. / ARKA /. The pace of Armenia’s further relations with the EU will depend on the quality of the upcoming presidential election in Armenia, slated for 2013 February, Traian Hristea, head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, told a news conference today.

He said the EU expects Armenian authorities to review and eliminate all the shortcomings and inaccuracies spelled out in the report of the OSCE / ODIHR mission on the May 6 parliamentary elections. He said the pace of development of relations between Armenia and the EU will be depending on this.

According to him, the May 6 parliamentary elections demonstrated significant progress, but "a better result is needed and we expect the next election to be democratic and transparent."

Hristea said Armenia and EU initialed an agreement last week to ease visa requirements for Armenian citizens planning to visit EU countries and signed a  “readmission” agreement, which obligates Yerevan to help EU immigration authorities quickly expedite the repatriation of Armenian illegal immigrants. He said the visa accord will provide Armenian travelers with access to the so-called Schengen zone embracing much of Europe with fewer documents and at a lower cost. Under the agreement, university students, academics and state officials will be eligible for long-term and multiple-entry Schengen visas.

He said also talks on the “association agreement” between the EU and Armenia continue as part of the EU’s Eastern Partnership program, which calls also for the creation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). -0-