Armenia, EU initial new agreement on comprehensive and expanded partnership

Armenia and the European Union initialed the new agreement on comprehensive and expanded partnership, Armenian MFA’s spokesman Tigran Balayan said.

The MFA informed on March 21 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian held a meeting with Luc Devigne, Director for Eastern Partnership, Russia, Central Asia and OSCE at European External Action Service and Petros Sourmelis, Head of DG Trade Unit at the European Commission.

Minister Nalbandian welcomed the guests’ visit to Armenia aimed at initialing the Comprehensive and expanded partnership agreement and expressed confidence that the document will open a new page in the relations of Armenia with the EU and its member states. FM Nalbandian stated that the agreement will be signed during this year, adding that it will reflect the depth, level and volume of relations between Armenia and the EU.

He emphasized that the document highlights the importance Armenia attaches to its cooperation with the Union. The meeting was followed by initialing the Comprehensive and expanded partnership agreement between Armenia and the EU.

On behalf of Armenia it was initialed by Deputy Foreign Minister Karen Nazaryan, First Deputy Minister of Economic Development and Investments Garegin Melkonyan. On behalf of the EU the document was initialed by Luc Devigne and Petros Sourmelis.

President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan and President of the European Council Donald Tusk on February 27 announced in Brussels on ending Armenia-EU talks over comprehensive and expanded partnership agreement.

“This new agreement will expand our cooperation framework by taking into account new global political and economic interests that we share and the challenges we want to overcome together. We expect closer cooperation in spheres like energy, transportation and environment, trade and new investment opportunities and further expanded movement for the benefit of our citizens,” Donald Tusk said.