EU External Relations Commissioner Arriving in Yerevan February 17

PanARMENIAN.Net - February 17 EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner will arrive in Armenia, reported the Press Service of the Armenian MFA. During her visit Ferrero-Waldner will meet with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Speaker Artur Baghdassaryan and FM Vartan Oskanian. As the EU delegation to Armenia had earlier told PanARMENIAN.Net Benita Ferrero-Waldner's regional visit is aimed to demonstrate EU commitment to its pledge to lay foundations for strengthened relations between the EU and South Caucasus via the European Neighborhood Policy and supporting reforms in partner states. Major subjects of the talks in Yerevan, Baku and Tbilisi will be the working out of Action Plans within the European Neighborhood Policy, «frozen conflicts» and energy security issues. On the eve of the visit Benita Ferrero-Waldner stated that «by including the South Caucasian countries in the European Neighborhood Policy we opened a new page in our relations with South Caucasian states.» «I hope we will be able to finish work over Armenia's, Azerbaijan's and Georgia's Action Plans which will allow us to intensify our relations. The year 2006 should be that of speeding-up our partnership,» said the EU Commissioner for External Relations.



Benita Ferrero-Waldner also hoped that «we will witness good progress in conflict settlement in the region in 2006.» «In the course of my visit I will explain how we can support countries on their way to more sustainable, prospering and democratic future,» she said. After her visit to the region EU consultations with South Caucasian states, aimed at completion of the work over the Action Plans, will begin.