The EU supports efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 21, ARMENPRESS: Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received the delegation of the Foreign Relations Committee of the European Parliament which is in Armenia on a regional visit.

MFA press office said Minister Nalbandian hailed the high-level political dialogue with the EU, the high-level reciprocal visits, the dynamically developing relations, emphasizing the importance of inter-parliamentary ties.

The parties said that noticeable progress has been registered in the negotiations over the Association Agreement which started in July 2010. It was stressed that so far 22 Chapters of future Agreement have been negotiated and temporarily closed by the economic, sectoral and financial cooperation group, and a good progress has been achieved in the spheres of political dialogue and reforms, foreign and security policy, and justice.

The interlocutors stressed the importance of the EU's decision to start the negotiations over the creation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with Armenia. In this regard, it was noted that serious reforms were implemented in Armenia and essential results were achieved in some areas.

With the request of the delegation of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Minister Nalbandian presented the current stage of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this context it was stressed that the EU fully supports the efforts made by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs.

The sides discussed a number of regional issues of mutual interest.