EU, Armenia hold first Partnership Committee meeting under CEPANovember 28, 2018 - 11:28 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Union and Armenia held the first meeting of the Partnership Committee under the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on Tuesday, November 27. At the meeting, the EU reiterated its support for the Armenian government's reform process, and highlighted that the implementation of the CEPA would be a key tool for reform and modernisation of the country, help attract EU investment, stimulate exchanges with the EU and provide concrete benefits both for the EU and Armenian citizens. The European Union continues to be a key reform partner in Armenia, providing assistance in areas such as strengthening democracy and rule of law, economic development, access to finance for private sector and infrastructure investments. The Partnership Committee discussed the draft CEPA implementation roadmap prepared by the Armenian government. The CEPA foresees that Armenia approximates with the EU legislation referred to in the agreement in the coming years, including in the fields of transport, energy, environment, climate action, taxation and consumer protection. The EU expressed appreciation for the draft roadmap as a good starting point for CEPA implementation. The Partnership Committee stressed the importance of continued, inclusive dialogue with civil society in this context. The EU and Armenia agreed to continue promoting the mobility of citizens through the Visa-facilitation and the Readmission Agreements and consider in due course the opening of a Visa-liberalisation Dialogue, provided that conditions for well-managed and secure mobility are in place. The Partnership Committee referred to the forthcoming elections in Armenia, scheduled for 9 December. The EU looks forward to credible, inclusive and transparent elections. The EU and EU Member States are providing concrete support to the electoral process, including voter identification equipment and measures to facilitate voter participation and monitoring by civil society. The Armenian side stressed its commitment to conduct genuinely free and fair elections which will further consolidate the peaceful democratic transformation in the country. The Partnership Committee also discussed issues related to rule of law, migration, economic development and education, as well as the Eastern Partnership and regional issues. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr Garen Nazarian, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia and Mr Luc Devigne, Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service. Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. Freedom House concerned by mounting reports of police violence in Armenia Freedom House urged Armenian authorities to investigate this pattern of excessive force and inhumane treatment. CSTO recognizes Armenia’s sovereign right to withdraw Tasmagambetov has said that if Armenia decides to leave the organization, “it will be the sovereign right of Armenia.” |