February 20, 2006 - 17:44 AMT
Baghdassaryan: EU Shouldn't Equate Three South Caucasian States
Today Armenian parliament speaker Artur Baghdassaryan met with European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus Mr. Heikki Talvitie, who is completing his mission, reported RA NA press service. Head of the EU delegation to Armenia and Georgia Torben Holtze, German Ambassador to Armenia Heike Renate Peitsch and RA Deputy Foreign Minister Armen Bayburdyan were present at the meeting. By the quest's request Artur Baghdassaryan briefed on the legislative work of the Armenian parliament carried out after the adoption of the constitutional amendments. Noting the importance of the European Neighborhood Policy as a stimulus for the political and economic development of the region the RA NA chairman said it would be correct to take different approaches towards each South Caucasian state and not equate them though it's certainly easier to view the South Caucasus as a unified political and economic market. Sharing this opinion Heikki Talvitie noted the different perception of European standards by each South Caucasian state and stressed the necessity of democracy development in the whole region. Giving a positive estimate to the processes of European integration in Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, he noted it should a political priority for these republics. Besides, the parties referred to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement and noted the ongoing negotiations within the OSCE Minsk Group framework remain actual and the parties should reach agreement via compromise.