EU TO OPEN NEW MISSIONS IN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN

The European Union's executive office said Friday it would open new diplomatic missions in Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of efforts to bolster ties and boost European influence with nations in the Caucasus region. The two missions run by the European Commission will be opened during a high-level visit by top EU officials including EU External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner and Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel to the two countries next week. The EU officials will also visit Georgia with the aim of smoothing out implementation of new partnership pacts with all three countries that now neighbor the 27-nation bloc. Their visit to the region next week will also address numerous frozen conflicts in the area, officials said. Ferrero-Waldner said the opening of the delegations "is a confirmation" of the EU's commitment to cooperate more closely with the countries, "supporting reforms with a view to bringing the whole region closer to Europe." The three Caucasus countries have all signed up to so-called neighborhood pacts, offering the 16 countries that neighbor the EU aid, expertise and easy access to EU markets in return for commitment to across-the-board reforms. The EU offers help in resolving regional conflicts, shoring up weak frontiers, increasing free trade, helping neighbors raise product norms and standards to the EU level and cutting red tape. It also provides assistance in energy, transport, the environment, rural development, research cooperation, public health, financial services and migration or maritime affairs.
AP

<< | Home |

E-mail article | Discuss article new!

RSS © Armenialiberty

Headlines for February 01, 2008

ARMENIANS URGED TO SPURN VOTE BRIBES
By Ruzanna Stepanian, Ruben Meloyan and Astghik Bedevian
The state human rights ombudsman, Armen Harutiunian, joined opposition candidates Friday in urging Armenians not to sell their votes during the upcoming presidential election, expressing concern about ...
POLICE PRESS CHARGES AGAINST ARRESTED TER-PETROSIAN ALLIES
By Astghik Bedevian and Karine Simonian
Four arrested supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosian were remanded in pre-trial custody on Friday pending investigation into their alleged assault on a man who heckled the former president at a campaign rally ...
ARMENIA FREES AZERI POW
By Emil Danielyan
Armenia said on Friday that it has deported to an unspecified European country an Azerbaijani soldier who surrendered to Armenian forces over a year ago and has apparently been unwilling to return home ...
EU TO OPEN NEW MISSIONS IN ARMENIA, AZERBAIJAN
AP
The European Union's executive office said Friday it would open new diplomatic missions in Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of efforts to bolster ties and boost European influence with nations in the Caucasus ...