Armenia-EU Association Agreement negotiations proceed faster than anticipated

YEREVAN, MARCH 20, ARMENPRESS: The negotiations of the Armenia-EU Association Agreement proceed faster than it was sketched. Gunnar Wiegand, Director for Countries of Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and Central Asia at the EU Foreign Relations Service and Armenia's Deputy Foreign Affair Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan had a briefing with the journalists on March 20. The Deputy Foreign Affair Minister assured the negotiation process will be completed by Eastern Partnership summit due in Vilnius on November. "All the chapters of the agreement are coordinated, yet there are several paragraphs, which need extra attention," Mnatsakanyan stated. The Deputy Foreign Affair Minister assures the negotiation process needs no extra stage.

Among other things Gunnar Wiegand stated that the EU has excellent experience in negotiating with Armenia. In parallel negotiations are being held with Moldova and Georgia. The negotiations are approximately in the same stage, with some differences in completion of the process. The EU negotiator noted Association Agreement negotiations are being held with Azerbaijan as well, yet with less progress registered. In the words of Wiegand no negotiations regarding the Free Trade agreement are being launched with Azerbaijan, as Azerbaijan is not World Trade Organization (WTO) member.