New premises of the European Commission Delegation opened in Yerevan yesterday. European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said in her opening speech, "During the recent years significant progress was fixed in relations between Armenia and the EU and today's event in the evidence of this progress. Establishment of full-fledged EC Delegation will contribute to development of relations with state structures, NGOs and mass media," she said.

For his part, Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian congratulated all attendees on a "historical date."

"Several years ago, when we opened our legation in Brussels, I said that the day will come when our relations with the EU will come up to a new standard. Future generations will keep in memory the present day when we laid a basis for new Armenia-EU relations," the Minister said.

The EC Delegation to Armenia is headed by Ambassador Raul de Luzenberger.