Armenia, as a member of the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative, deserves praise for the progress in the ties with the Union, according to Bulgarian MEP Kristian Vigenin.

As novinite.com reports, Vigenin, who is the Co-Chair of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, the parliamentary component of the proposed Eastern Partnership consisting of members of the European Parliament and Parliaments of Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia, spoke Wednesday, April 18 during a debate at the European Parliament.

"It's important not only to criticize, but also to recognize the progress of the nations," Vigenin stated, adding that the EP foreign relations committee has adopted its reports on Armenia and Azerbaijan almost unanimously, and that he expects a similar vote at the Parliament itself.

The Bulgarian MEP noted Armenia's progress in its legislative reforms, and its ambition to hold the most democratic elections in its history on May 6, 2012. He emphasized that the swift progress in the talks for Armenia's association agreement with the EU indicates that the Caucasus state relies on expanding its ties with the Union.

Vigenin also believes that the EU can help build trust between Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to help resolve the Nagorno Karabakh conflict.

He stressed the importance of the recent Euronest assembly meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital, with the full-fledged participation of the Armenian delegation.