Armenia-EU Cooperation Committee sitting in Yerevan: EU is one of the best partners of Armenia

YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 4, ARMENPRESS. The agenda of the 16th sitting of the Committee on Armenia-EUCooperationheld in Yerevan includes discussions of the new agreement as well as issues related to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict. “Armenpress” reports that Armenia Minister of Economy Karen Chshmaritian noted during his meeting with the journalists that the sitting of the Committee was significant in the context of starting negotiations over Armenia-EU new format relations.

“All our state agencies have separate proposals that they intend to introduce to the European party especially related to the sectors of agriculture, energy, transport and communications. On behalf of our Ministry, I’d like to emphasize the importance of assistance programs in the sector of innovation and SMEs,” Chshmaritian noted.

He informed that “COSME” and “Horizon 2020” agreements will be signed between Armenia and the EU in the near future.

“The first program will define the directions of SMEs support, that is we will use the possibilities of the European party for developing our small business. “Horizon 2020” can be a serious resource for further development of innovation system,” Minsiter said.

According to GunnarWiegand,European External Action Service (EEAS) Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE, they want to assist the implementation of Armenia reforms in a period of economic challenges the region faces, adding that the EU was one of the best partners of Armenia both in the sector of trade and investments.

As he points out, they hold discussions about democracy, good management etc. with the Armenian partners.

“We hold consultations, so that the Constitutional Reforms referendum is held at a high level and in a more efficient manner. Moreover, we will have discussions concerning the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and relations with Turkey. We are concerned with the incidents occurring in border areas and we want to have stability and save lives,” GunnarWiegandadded.