High-level delegation of MEPs to visit ArmeniaJune 18, 2018 - 12:33 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The European Parliament will send a delegation of 9 MEPs to Armenia on Monday, June 18 to take stock of EU-Armenia relations and reform efforts, before voting on consent to the new agreement. A nine-MEPs strong delegation, headed by Foreign Affairs committee Chair David McAllister (EPP, DE), will meet Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Ara Babloyan as well as ministers, MPs and civil society representatives. MEPs are to assess the political situation in Armenia and to take stock of EU-Armenia relations and announced reform efforts since the recent political turmoil, resulting in a change of government. Foreign Affairs committee MEPs on June16 applauded the citizens of Armenia on the recent peaceful transition of power and overwhelmingly gave their consent to the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, opening up the possibility for deeper cooperation in different sectors. The European Parliament will have a final vote on the agreement in Strasbourg in July 2018. Ahead of the visit, McAllister said: "This is a key moment in the strengthening of Armenia’s democracy, but also in the deepening of EU-Armenian relations. Armenia’s citizens have very high expectations, they want to see key reforms take place. The European Parliament attaches great importance to the developments in Armenia and its citizens’ aspirations, which is why we are coming to meet with Armenia’s leaders and civil society, ahead of the final vote on the new EU-Armenia agreement." In addition to McAllister, the EP’s delegation will be composed of eight MEPs: Chair of the Delegation to the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly - Rebecca Harms (Greens, DE), Chair of the Delegation to the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee - Sajjad Karim (ECR, UK), Foreign Affairs committee Rapporteur on Armenia - László Tokes (EPP, HU), Željana Zovko (EPP, HR), Neena Gill (S&D, UK), Boris Zala (S&D, SK), Eleni Theocharous (ECR, CY) and Petras Auštrevičius (ALDE, LT). Top stories Six total incidents have burned 19 old-growth trees. Friday night 8 trees were torched along the beautiful main entrance. The EU does not intend to conduct military exercises with Armenia, Lead Spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Peter Stano says. Hikmet Hajiyev has said that there is no place for USAID operation in Azerbaijan any longer. A telephone conversation between Putin and Pashinyan before the CSTO summit is not planned, Peskov says. Partner news | Ucom equips four bus stops in Ijevan with free Wi-Fi Ucom now provides free Wi-Fi coverage in smart bus stops in four communities of Ijevan. Armenia, Russia discuss life extension of Metsamor nuclear plant Issues regarding the extension of life of the 2nd power unit of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant were discussed in Yerevan. Armenians stage more campaigns against territorial concessions to Azerbaijan Protesters blocked more roads across Armenia on Friday, April 26 in continuing attempts to scuttle territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. |