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| # 5 ( 2 7 ) S e p t e m b e r - O c t o b e r 2 0 0 5 |
ARMENIAN PRESIDENT MET EU LEADERS
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On October 20-21 2005, President of Armenia Robert Kocharian paid a working visit to Brussels, during which he held meetings with the leadership of the European Union.
President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, said after the meeting with Armenian President in Brussels that the European Parliament will do its utmost so that the talks on Armenia's Action Plan within the European Neighborhood Policy started immediately.
Josep Borrell said also that draft constitutional amendments put on a national referendum in Armenia "will ensure real progress in strengthening democratic institutions."
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso stated during the meeting with Robert Kocharian that the European Union supports the process of constitutional reforms in Armenia, and considers them to be important both for the future of the republic and in the context of deepening its relations with the EU.
 President of Armenia Robert Kocharian (left) and
President of the European Parliament Josep Borrell (right)
Jose Manuel Barroso said he had discussed with the Armenian President the issue of absence of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Turkey, as well as the prospects of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement. European Commission President recalled that the agenda of talks on Turkey's accession to the European Union includes a point about the establishment of good neighborly relations with all neighbors. "This is why, I think that the decision on starting Turkey's EU accession talks is important not only for Turkey itself, but also for Armenia and the whole region," European Commission President concluded.
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 President of Armenia Robert Kocharian (left) and
European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso (right)
The European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, said that the EU hopes that the Turkish-Armenian border would open soon, which will allow to restore Kars-Gyumri railway communication instead of constructing a new "complicated" route Kars-Akhalkalaki.
Javier Solana said that the use of existing transport communications is much more preferable than investing money into the construction of new ones. He pointed out that a good will is needed for solving issues concerning the Turkish-Armenian border, and the European Union hopes that both sides will show it.
 EU High Representative for the Common Foreign
and Security Policy Javier Solana (left) and President of Armenia Robert Kocharian (right) |
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EU TROIKA DELEGATION VISITED YEREVAN
The European Union Troika Delegation visited Yerevan from 23-25 October 2005, at the beginning of a week-long visit to the three South Caucasus countries.
The delegation included Sir Brian Fall, UK Special Representative to the South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie, EU Special Representative to the South Caucasus, Simon Smith, Head of Eastern Department, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Kurt Juul, Head of Southern Caucasus and Central Asia Unit, EU Commission, Heidemaria Guerer, representing the incoming Austrian Presidency, Torben Holtze, Head of the European Commission Delegation to Armenia and Paolo Barroso, Directorate General for external and Politico-Military Affairs, Council of the EU.
During the visit Troika Delegation met with Armenian President Robert Kocharyan, Speaker of the National Assembly Arthur Bagdassaryan,
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 Sir Brian Fall, UK Special Representative to the South Caucasus |
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Ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Economic Development Vardan Oskanyan and Karen Chshmarityan.
The purpose of the visit was to review recent developments in Armenia and progress in taking forward Armenia's closer relationship with the EU under the European Neighbourhood Policy.
On October 24, UK Special Representative to the South Caucasus, Brian Fall, said at a briefing in the Armenian Foreign Ministry that there is no "deadline" for the beginning of talks with Armenia within the European Neighborhood Policy. He noted that United Kingdom's presidency of the European Union expires on 1 January 2006 and "we would like to start the talks during our presidency."
"If Armenia and Georgia move forward in the European direction, it would be desirable that Azerbaijan also adhered to this direction, even if not on the same speed," said Brian Fall. |
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EUROPEAN UNION SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE
FOR THE SOUTH CAUCASUS VISITED YEREVAN |
On 29 September 2005, European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie, visited Yerevan.
At the meeting with Armenian President Robert Kocharian, Heikki Talvitie highlighted the importance of constitutional amendments in Armenia, calling them "a new possibility for the development and reinforcement of democracy in the republic."
Robert Kocharian and Heikki Talvitie also discussed issues concerning the development of Armenia's Action Plan within the European Neighborhood Policy, considered the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and regional problems.
Addressing a joint briefing with Armenian Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian, EU Special Repetitive for the South Caucasus Heikki Talvitie said that the talks on Armenia's Action Plan within the European Neighborhood Policy are delayed because of "Azerbaijan's problems with one of the EU member states."
According to Talvitie, while deciding to
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 European Union Special Representative for the South Caucasus, Heikki Talvitie (left)
and and President of Armenia Robert Kocharian (right) |
involve three South Caucasus states into the European Neighborhood Policy, the European Union holds to the opinion that it is necessary to preserve the "balanced policy" towards all countries of the region. EU Special Representative |
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expressed the hope that the problems between "the EU member state" and Azerbaijan will be solved by mid-October. Talvitie did not rule out that if this doesn't happen, the European Union will pursue a more "differentiated policy" towards South Caucasus countries.
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ENP TO FACILITATE THE INTEGRATION OF ARMENIAN
ECONOMY INTO EUROPEAN MARKET
On 7 October 2005, the head of the European Commission Delegation to Armenia, Torben Holtze, took part in the Rose Roth seminar "Security in the South Caucasus" in Yerevan organized jointly by the Armenian National Assembly and NATO Parliamentary Assembly.
Torben Holtze stated that the European Neighborhood Policy will facilitate the full integration of the Armenian economy into the European market.
The head of the EC Delegation to Armenia stated that Armenia's Action Plan within the European Neighborhood Policy should cover such directions as the reinforcement of democratic institutions, the strengthening of protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, the improvement of the business climate and the modernization of the public sector, the continuation of efforts aimed at combating corruption, the reform of the taxation and customs administration and legislation, the provision of progress for poverty reduction, and closure of the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant.
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Head of the European Commission Delegation to Armenia, Torben Holtze (left)
and US Ambassador to Armenia, John Evans (right)
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EU ALLOCATES THE FIRST TRANCH CREDIT TO ARMENIA WITHIN
FOOD SECURITY PROGRAMME |
On 24 October 2005, the head of the European Commission Delegation to Armenia, Torben Holtze and Armenian Minster of Finance and Economy Vartan Khachatrian signed the agreement on allocating the first 5 mln euro tranch credit to Armenia within the framework of the Food Security Programme.
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Torben Holtze noted that the total volume of the 2-year programmme signed in August 2005 totals 20mln euro. The second 5 mln euro tranch will be allocated to Armenia till the end of the year. From 1997 till 2005, the European Union allocated 81 million euro to Armenia within the framework of the Food Security Programme, 4.5 of which were allocated in the form of a grant as technical assistance.
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PRESS VISIT OF ARMENIAN JOURNALISTS TO BRUSSELS |
A group of Armenian journalists representing Armenian media visited Brussels between October 9 and 15 upon the invitation of the European Commission Delegation to Armenia. The group, accompanied by the press and information officer of the European Commission Delegation to Armenia Anahit Azatian, included representatives of the Armenian Public TV, Armenia and Yerkir-Media TV Channels, as well as Mediamax news agency.
Within the framework of the visit, Armenian journalists met the representatives of the European Commission Directorate General (DG) External Relations, DG Enlargement, DG Press, DG Justice, Liberty and Security, DG for Transport and Energy and DG Trade. The journalists attended a press briefing in the European Commission
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and learned how the Commission disseminates information about its activity and cooperates with the journalists.
The group also visited the Council of the European Union and met with the spokesperson for the High Repre-sentative for GFSP, Christina Gallach.
Marie Anne Isler Beguin, head of the Interparliamentary Delegation for relations with South Caucasus, also received the Armenian journalists.
During conversations with the European officials, the journalists discussed the whole spectrum of issues of Armenia-EU cooperation. EU officials answered the questions of Armenian journalists as well as asked their opinions about the ongoing political and economic processes in the South Caucasus.
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NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN
MOVEMENT OPENS IN YEREVAN
National Council of the International European Movement opened in Yerevan, September 16 2005.
Secretary General of the International European Movement Henrik H. Kroner expressed the hope that the opening of the Council in Armenia will promote the establishment of an active movement involving representatives of the civil society.
Ambassador of Germany to Armenia Heike Renate Peitsch hailed Armenia's aspiration to participate in the International European Movement, noting that the Armenian society will have the possibility to receive reliable information about European processes.
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 Secretary General of the
International European Movement Henrik H. Kroner |
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EXHIBITION OF DISABLED CHILDREN'S WORKS
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On 29 September 2005, the Armenian Camp NGO organized the exhibition of ceramic works of disabled children in the House of the Painters in Yerevan.
Chairman of the Armenian Camp Sam Rostomian said that the children's works, made during their stay in the rehabilitation center for the disabled children on the shore of Lake Sevan this August, have been presented at the exhibition.
25 volunteers and 62 children lived in the camp for a month. The children studied how to live independently, played and made ceramic figures which were further exhibited.
The Golden Apricot Film Festival Development Fund prepared a surprise for the children. The Fund has chosen three best works and awarded their authors with 50 euro each.
Among other sponsors the European Commission Delegation to Armenia has also supported the project of the Armenian Camp.
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"TEMPUS. INDIVIDUAL MOBILITY, ARMENIA. 2001-2005" PRESENTED
On 29 October 2005, Tempus Yerevan Office presented the brochure "Tempus. Individual Mobility, Armenia. 2001-2005" in Russian and English languages.
The brochure presents detailed information about the activity of Tempus in Armenia during last 4 years, describes the rules and conditions for receiving grants for individual trips and the impressions of programme participants.
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VET MODERNIZATION PRIORITIES PAPER ELABORATED
On 18 October 2005, VETArmenia and the Ministry of Education of Armenia announced about the elaboration of the Vocational Education and Training Modernization Priorities Paper as well as Action Plan.
As Armenian Education Minister Sergo Yeritsian said, the Action Plan is designed for 2005-2008 and envisages a number of events. According to the Minister, the plan will help solve important tasks and modernize the Vocational Education in Armenia.
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 Armenian Education Minister Sergo Yeritsian |
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