YEREVAN.- Armenia is hopeful that the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the EU will be ready to be submitted to parliament for ratification in spring, a deputy foreign minister said Tuesday.

In a speech at the EU-Armenian Parliamentary Cooperation Committee’s 17th session, Karen Nazaryan highlighted the cornerstone significance of the deal, which he said should by all means be enacted to offer additional peace and security guarantees.

As for the visa liberalization process between Armenia and the EU, the Deputy Foreign Minister noted that it is an important point for rapprochement.

According to Nazaryan, it cannot be predicted when the document will be ratified by 28 EU countries and the European Parliament, but Armenia will be able to use some of the provisions of the agreement, such as budgetary support, after ratifing the document in its own parliament, without waiting for the ratification of the EU countries.

EU-Armenia PCC Co-Chairs Sajjad Karim noted in his speech that the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed between the EU and Armenia in November, will be of great importance for the development of bilateral relations.

In his opinion, this historical agreement is based on loyalty to the European common value system.

Touching upon the cooperation of the parties within the framework of the Eastern Partnership, Mr. Karim noted that it is not a tool that guides Armenia to make a choice between the EU and EAEU.

Armenia has will to implement the reforms in line with civil society demands and commitments to the EU.