YEREVAN. – The talks on a new agreement between Armenia and EU will officially start by the end of this year, Armenian Deputy Economy Minister Garegin Melkonyan told reporters.

The precise date for the launch of talks is unclear, the official said.

Referring to the main areas to be included in the future agreement, the Deputy Minister said: “There was willingness to preserve already negotiated points as much as possible. However, there are some points which, of course, can not be included in the new agreement. For example, a component on free trade, that is cancellation of tariffs and several other provisions. The rest are a subject of negotiations.”

Earlier this week EU Foreign Affairs Council authorized the European Commission and the High Representative to open negotiations on a new, legally binding and overarching agreement with Armenia.