EU official hopes for visa facilitation with ArmeniaSeptember 30, 2011 - 11:39 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Since the 2009 Prague Summit, a new, distinct relationship between the EU and our Eastern neighbors have been created, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy said. “Our partners are at various stages of establishing sustainable democracy, founded on respect for fundamental freedoms and the rule of law. The less advanced this is, the more difficult, but also the more necessary, your work is,” Stefan Fule said at Eastern Partnership Summit in Warsaw. “Developing a multilateral dimension for the Eastern Partnership is an important achievement. It complements each country's bilateral relations with the European Union. It provides a forum to exchange experience and good practice between EU Member States and our Eastern Partners, and among our Partners,” he said. “We have initiated Comprehensive Institution Building programs to strengthen the efficiency, transparency and accountability of our Partners' key government institutions. We launched five Flagship Initiatives to deliver tangible benefits for Partner countries' citizens in key areas like: integrated border management, Small and Medium Enterprises, energy efficiency, environment protection and civil protection.” Mr. Fule also emphasized that visa facilitation and readmission agreements are being implemented with Georgia and “we hope to negotiate similar agreements with Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus.” Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. Aliyev says no need for mediators in Armenia-Azerbaijan process Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev believes that Baku and Yerevan do not mediators in the process of normalizing relations. Aram I supports Karekin II’s “patriotic position” Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia Aram I has expressed support for the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin. |