Eastern Partnership will enable Armenia to establish closer ties with EuropeMay 6, 2009 - 16:04 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - With this initiative, EU Eastern Partnership seeks stable and reliable neighborhood with six countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, RA Deputy Foreign Minister Karine Kazinyan told a news conference today. "By proposing such initiative EU seeks to establish partnership with neighbor states. It's one more step towards EU membership," she stressed, noting at the same time that Eastern Partnership member states should realize that partnership does not imply membership to EU. "Associate membership agreement will be signed only with countries showing maximum progress towards initiative implementation," Karine Kazinyan said.According to her, Eastern Partnership envisages cooperation not only in bilateral, but also in multilateral format. "The initiative aims to establish cooperation among member states, despite the existing conflicts. The countries are offered cooperation and partnership," Mrs. Kazinyan said, adding that Armenia views the initiative as cooperation aimed at establishing closer ties with Europe. She didn't rule out the possibility of non-member states' integration to the project. "Before 2013, EU will allocate about 600 million Euros. Eastern Partnership summits will be held once or twice a year and member states' Foreign Ministers will meet once per year," she reported. Eastern Partnership is due for May 7 in Prague. Armenia will be represented in person of President Serzh Sargsyan Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | Russia provides info about arrested Armenian ex-MP Russian law enforcement agencies have provided information about the arrest of Tigran Urikhanyan. Lemkin Institue slams Pashinyan's “cryptic engagement with Genocide denial” The Lemkin Institute is alarmed over Pashinyan’s statements “questioning Armenia's legal basis to pursue justice against Turkey”. 41 detained as antigovernment protests continue in Yerevan 41 people were detained in Yerevan as people demanding Pashinian’s resignation stage campaigns of civil disobedience. Armenia votes for UN resolution granting Palestine new rights The U.N. General Assembly voted by a wide margin on May 10 to grant new “rights and privileges” to Palestine. |