YEREVAN, OCTOBER 22, ARMENPRESS: The European Union is ready to continue the cooperation with the Republic of Armenia, though the Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union should be taken into account as well. The Director for Countries of Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia Gunar Vigand stated about it at the briefing held before the launch of the session of the Armenia-EU Cooperation Committee on October 22. “We have little time before the Vilnius summit and we are here to discuss the future of the Armenia-EU cooperation and find solutions to the current situation”, - said Gunar Vigand.

“I can only say confidently that the cooperation will be continued and expanded and the format of the cooperation will be probably discussed at the Vilnius summit”, - said the Director for Countries of Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia. The EU official stated that during the Yerevan session the interlocutors will discuss the issues related to the Armenia-EU cooperation in the framework of the European neighborhood policy and the European Eastern Partnership, as well as the future of the economic and bilateral relations.

On April 22 1996 the Republic of Armenia and the European member countries signed an agreement on cooperation and partnership, which was put into force since July 1999. In accordance with the 83rd article of the agreement, a Cooperation Committee was established, the sessions of which are convened once a year in Yerevan or Brussels.

In the result of the negotiations on September 3, 2013 in Moscow the Presidents Serzh Sargsyan and Vladimir Putin confirmed the aim of the Republic of Armenia and the Russian Federation in the direction of further development of economic integration processes in the Eurasian territory. In that context the President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan announced about the Armenia’s decision to join the Customs Union and the necessity of implementation corresponding steps for that aim and in future about participating in formation of the Eurasian economic union. The President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin expressed his support to the abovementioned decision of Armenia and informed about the readiness of the Russian side to support the process. Serzh Sargsyan noted that this decision is not refusal from dialogue with European organizations.

Earlier it was intended that Yerevan will sign the Association and Free Trade Zone Agreement with the European Union in Vilnius. The Eastern Partnership summit will be held on November 28-29 in Vilnius, during which the signing (or pre-signing) of the Association Agreement with some Eastern Partnership countries is expected.