Republican Party of Armenia

 President Serzh Sargsyan, who continues his working visit to the Kingdom of Belgium, met today with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schultz. At the conclusion of the meeting, the President of Armenia and President of the European Parliament made a joint statement for the representatives of the mass media.

***

Statement by President Serzh Sargsyan after the meeting with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz

I am glad to meet with Mr. Schulz in his new capacity and discuss issues of mutual interest.

I would like once again to congratulate you on your election as President of the European Parliament and express confidence that during your tenure our relations with EU will register new success both on the parliamentary and executive levels.

We attach importance to the European Parliament’s role in the context of deepening Armenia-EU cooperation. The Armenia-EU interparliamentary relations develop dynamically both on bilateral – RA National Assembly- European Parliament, and on the multilateral level, in the format of the Parliamentary Assembly of Eastern Partnership - Euronest.

Quite recently, on February 22-23, the Committee on Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Civil Society of the Parliamentary Assembly of Euronest held its meeting in Yerevan and it was the first meeting conducted in a partner state. We are confident that Euronest will become a platform which can create good opportunities for the bilateral interparliamentary ties as well as for the exchange of the best practices of the European parliamentarism. We were also glad to host in the same period of time the delegation of the Foreign Relations Commission of the European Parliament.

With President Schulz, we have discussed a wide range of issues present on the agenda of Armenia-EU relations. I have presented to Mr. Schulz our commitment to the implementation of wide reforms in our country, and spoke about targeted assistance measures undertaken by the European Commission and the Government of Armenia and aimed at the enhancement of the reforms.

Both sides noted with satisfaction progress registered recently in our relations with EU, including in the areas of the Association Agreement, Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, visa facilitation with the EU countries and cooperation in other areas.

We have also spoken about the approaching parliamentary elections in Armenia. I have stated that we are determined to organize and conduct electoral processes in accordance with the European and international standards. I am pleased that along with other international observers, the elections in Armenia will also be observed by the observer mission of the European Parliament.

I informed President Schulz on the latest developments in the NK peace process. We welcomed recommendations recently adopted by the EU Council which note the necessity for the representatives of the European Union to visit Nagorno Karabakh. Armenia has stated many times that Nagorno Karabakh is part of Europe, a carrier of the same values and the time for direct contacts has come long ago.

Thank you.

***

After the joint statement with the President of the European Parliament, responding to the question on how the President of Armenia views intentions and attempts to conduct discussions and adopt resolutions in the European structures, particularly in the European Parliament, President Serzh Sargsyan said, “We have discussed it with Mr. Schulz. We take it quite calmly because it’s not the first time the European Parliament takes up the NK issue. In the end of 1980s and beginning of the 90s, all European structures were supporting the just claim of the people of Nagorno Karabakh. At that time too, the European Parliament adopted resolutions. I am confident that when adopting a resolution regarding the same issue, the European Parliament cannot proceed from different principles. Hence, there is nothing to worry about. Moreover, all European structures have been working to expedite resolution of the conflict.”

President.am