June 5, 2001 - 02:46 AMT
ARMENIA SEEKS ITS PLACE AND ROLE IN EUROPEAN ARCHITECTURE, KOCHARIAN SAID
YEREVAN, June 4. /Mediamax/. President Robert Kocharian said today in the exclusive interview to Mediamax that Armenia attaches great importance to the development of both the bilateral ties with European countries and the cooperation with common European structures.
Armenian President starts his visit to the headquarters of the European Union (EU) in Brussels on Tuesday, during which he will hold meetings with the leadership of EU, European Commission and Europarliament.
“In the context of European direction I would point out two important theses that guide Armenia in its foreign policy. This is, first of all, the realization of irreversibility of processes of European integration, and secondly, Armenia’s identification as a part of Europe, the search for its place and role in European architecture,” Robert Kocharian said.
According to the president, “we take effective steps to establish closer ties with European institutions, and for Armenia it is a natural process”. “Our country has always associated itself with Europe, has felt a part of it. We are linked by centuries-old historic and cultural ties, our principles and aims, approaches to the development and strengthening of peace are consonant,” President Kocharian said. --0--