Armenia enjoys an important place among the priorities of the European Union

PanARMENIAN.Net - According to experts, reforms in education, together with reforms in other fields may have its essential role in establishment of democratic institutions and dissemination of democratic values. According to the temporary EU Charge D'affaires in Armenia Raul de Luzenberger, within the frames of the ENP (European Neighborhood Policy) program, after the Armenia-EU Action Plan has been confirmed, both sides take more active steps for establishing healthier relations. "Presently the European Parliament is satisfied with the process of reforms being realized in Armenia, and now considers establishing a free trade area and granting the status of commercial relations to the economic ties with Yerevan," he mentioned. Besides he underlined that the EU may not force anyone into cooperation, it may render assistance to those countries only, which have voluntarily made their decision on cooperation. Alike was the statement made by the European Commission's Acting Director for Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia, Mr Gunnar Wiegand According to him, today Armenia and EU are in a very responsible phase. "Reforms in political and economic spheres, which are being carried out by the Armenian Government make us believe that the country is on its right path. We are both happy and surprised with the changes that have already been registered since the Action Plan has been signed," mentioned the representative of the European Commission. He also thinks that the further development of the Armenian economy will be fulfilled in a fair way. "We pay a particular attention to the development of private business, for this is what provides export. Three years ago EU assigned 10 million Euros to Armenia within the frames of the TASIS program, this year the sum was 21 million, and in 2008 it will be 24 million Euros. These funds will go to the reforms and support of the private business and its compliance with the European standards," said Wiegand

He also said that the provision of the stability of a democratic State, reforms in government and decreasing the poverty in villages in particular are among the priorities of the cooperation. "As for establishing free trade area in Armenia, in the given phase we only study the independent experts. If these studies give positive results, it will be possible to consider the establishment of the above mentioned market zone more seriously," said Wiegand.

The right to vote in equal with the 27 Member Countries of the EU on several issues of the international politics is among the great accomplishments of the country. As the RA Minister of Foreign Affairs Vartan Oskanyan says, it is a very vital achievement and among the countries of South Caucasus only Armenia has so far gained this right.

The truth is though, that in some certain issues and in particular in Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict regulation and the stabilization of the Armenian-Turkish relations EU participates only as an observer. On the one hand, EU hardly lacks key factors for assisting to the issue of the conflict resolution, with the OSCE Minsk Group of course. EU's position in the issue of stabilization of the Armenian-Turkish relations is rather firm; the State, having closed the border with the country CE Member, may not be accepted in the EU unless it opens the borders. In any case, Armenia's integration into Europe is a stronger motivation for the country's development than it would seem from the first sight.