YEREVAN. – Armenian National Assembly (NA) Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan on Saturday met with José Manuel Barroso, the President of the European Commission.

Abrahamyan noted that Barroso’s visit to Armenia attests to the fact that Armenia-European Union (EU) relations are on a high level, NA press service informs. He stressed that Armenia’s EU integration and its policy of European integration continue to be a priority in the country’s foreign policy.

In the NA leader’s words, Armenia has achieved a significant progress in the Armenia-EU Association Agreement talks. He added that the talks on the establishment of the Armenia-EU Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone are continuing with success and this process is planed to be finished prior to the Vilnius Summit in 2013.

Hovik Abrahamyan stressed that Armenia is taking an active part in the activities of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly of the Eastern Partnership, and noted that Armenia has expressed a wish to hold the assembly’s 2014 session in capital city Yerevan.

Also, the NA Speaker stressed that Armenia’s parliamentary elections in May were held in line with democratic standards—which was evidenced by the international election observation missions—and the country’s authorities are determined to conduct even more transparent presidential elections in February 2013. 

In his turn, José Manuel Barroso pointed to the need to further deepen the Armenia-European Union interaction. In terms of a political association and an economic integration with EU, he highlighted the role of the National Assembly.

The European Commission President noted that a progress is achieved in the Armenia-EU political ties and Armenia continues with its reforms. He added that a progress is likewise achieved in the Association Agreement talks. Barroso noted that the alignment of Armenia’s legal field with that of the EU will play a key role in deepening cooperation and, in this regard, he stressed the role of Armenia’s parliament.

In addition, the President of the European Commission acknowledged Armenia’s recent parliamentary elections and expressed a hope that the forthcoming presidential elections will be held fairly and transparently, too.