Thursday, 5 June 2008
RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan received a delegation led by Deputy Director-General of EC Foreign Relations General Directorate Hugues Mingarelli.
The parties have discussed the status of Armenian reforms implemented under the EU European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), the RA government program priority areas, those programs to be carried out in the frame of the second-generation reforms, regional cooperation-related issues and, in this context, the Armenian-Turkish relations, the settlement of the NKR conflict, the political situation in Armenia etc.
First of all, the Prime Minister expressed his appreciation of the assistance received from the European Union as for the drafting and implementation of the ENP Action Plan. He noted that the Action Plan is in full harmony with the priorities set forth in the RA government program and provides a basis for the planned reform. Among the problems of general character, Tigran Sargsyan singled out those measures designed to improve tax and customs administrations, as well as the efforts aimed at introducing the institute of conflict of interest in the foregoing areas.
At the same time, the head of the Armenian government acknowledged that much has to be done yet in the following areas pertaining to the EU-Armenian interaction: general ideology, program of action, regional and bilateral cooperation. He said Armenia needs making a possibly better use of the EU assistance.
Tigran Sargsyan prioritized the shaping of a favorable environment for institutional investments and the confidence-building measures both at home and abroad.
The head of the Armenian government and the EC FRGD deputy director-general also spoke about Armenia's eventual adherence to the trade regime applicable under the EU Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), the possibility of granting a status of market economy to Armenia on the part of the European Union which was said to be susceptible to give a strong impetus to the ongoing economic reforms and promote the resolution of a number of key issues.
