YEREVAN. – The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Edward Nalbandian, has issued a statement regarding the authorization to the European Commission on starting negotiations with Armenia.

“We attach importance to the decision of the Council of the European Union [(EU)] to give a mandate to the European Commission to start negotiations over forming the new legal basis of relations with Armenia.

“We are hopeful that the document to be elaborated as a result of the negotiations will best express the depth of Armenia-EU mutually beneficial cooperation, will reflect the joint commitment to raise our relations to a new level, and will outline the comprehensive partnership in all areas of mutual interest,” the Armenian FM’s statement reads.