Armenia is very important partner of EU – Barroso

Armenia is a very important partner of the European Union (EU), European Commission President José Manuel Barroso said Saturday during his joint news conference with Armenia’s President, Serzh Sargsyan. 

Pointing to Armenia’s rich heritage, Barroso stressed the country’s role in the enhancement of world civilization. “At the same time Armenia has set its sights on a bright future,” the European Commission head noted and, in this context, he recalled President Sargsyan’s visit to Brussels in March.

Also, José Manuel Barroso attested to the progress in the talks on the Armenia-EU Association Agreement and the establishment of the Armenia-EU Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Zone, and expressed a hope that the two documents will be prepared before the Vilnius Summit to be convened at the end of 2013.

In addition, he recalled the initialing—on October 18 in Brussels—of the Armenia-EU agreements on visa relaxation and readmission. According to Barroso, the first of these documents will be signed next May and, subsequently, the second agreement will be authorized.