YEREVAN. – Armenia’s FM Edward Nalbandian on Thursday attended and addressed the “Eastern Partnership: Domestic Political and European Context of Developments” conference.

Below is an excerpt from Nalbandian’s remarks: 

“After more than two years since the start of Eastern Partnership, we have recorded a considerable progress in bilateral and multilateral cooperation domains alike.  As a result of the declaration adopted in the Warsaw Summit, it is envisioned to bring a new impetus to bilateral cooperation. The EU Advisory Group is functioning in Armenia, since 2009, to assist in the reforms. We have welcomed and we place a great importance to the “more assistance, for more reforms” principle, which is developed as a result of reviewing the European Neighborhood Policy.

We recorded a considerable progress in the talks, which started in July 2010, around the Armenia-EU Association Agreement. Activities toward relaxing visa requirements with the EU are an integral part of our cooperation agenda. The joint Declaration on a Mobility Partnership between Armenia and EU was signed in Luxembourg on October 27. The start of this partnership will indirectly contribute also to speedy finalization of the process of relaxing visa requirements. The platforms that function along the lines of Eastern Partnership are called to contribute to—by spreading shared European values—the elimination of dividing lines, raising the level of mutual cogitation, and building a peaceful and prosperous future.”