Europe-Armenia Advisory Council congratulate Armenia on Independence day

The Europe-Armenia Advisory Council has issued a statement on the occasion of Armenia's Independence Day.

The statement says:

The Europe-Armenia Advisory Council extends its warmest and most sincere congratulations to the people of Armenia today, 21 September, as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Armenia’s independence. Situated in Europe’s eastern periphery, this ancient Christian country with its profound cultural richness has successfully taken on the challenge of developing its young state.

Today, Armenia faces a number of challenges, both old and new. In this, Europe stands by Armenia’s side! Armenia is now actively benefiting from the European Neighbourhood Policy and the Eastern Partnership. Negotiations of the EU-Armenia Association Agreement are progressing fast and will eventually lead to stronger political co-operation, deeper economic integration with a comprehensive free trade agreement, and easier mobility through visa facilitation. We also welcome the Partnership for Reforms, recently set up by the European Commission and the Armenian government, which aims to strengthen democratisation, good governance, and the respect for human rights and the rule of law. One of our biggest concerns is the rising tensions in the unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Europe has shown how countries can overcome centuries of warfare, transcend their differences through economic and political integration, and base their relations exclusively on peaceful means and international law. The people of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Nagorno-Karabakh deserve no less. We call for the implementation of the confidence building measures agreed at the trilateral summit of March 2011 in Sochi without any further delay, and align ourselves with the call of the Minsk Group Co-Chairing countries made in May 2011 in Deauville.

On this anniversary, the Europe-Armenia Advisory Council celebrates Armenia’s achievements over the past two decades. It encourages all parts of the Armenian society to continue along the path of re-integrating Armenia into the European family, where it rightfully belongs.

The Europe-Armenia Advisory Council Members are: Dr Kornel ALMASSY, Mr Elmar BROK, Prof Massimo CACCIARI, Prof Bernard COULIE, Mr Agustín DÍAZ DE MERA GARCÍA CONSUEGRA, Dr Alexandra DOBOLYI, Mr Frank ENGEL, Dr phil Tessa HOFMANN, Ms Marie Anne ISLER BÉGUIN, Dr Ioannis KASOULIDES, Dr Andrey KOVATCHEV, Mr Paweł Robert KOWAL, Mr Riccardo MIGLIORI, Ms Joëlle Le MORZELLEC, Mr Stephen POUND, Ms Michèle RIVASI, Mr François ROCHEBLOINE, Mr François ROELANTS DU VIVIER, Mr René ROUQUET, Dr Charles TANNOCK source: European Friends of Armenia

source: European Friends of Armenia

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

The governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently agreed the text of a historic peace agreement that ends years of animosity and warfare. The agreement is expected to be signed soon. LINKS Europe, which has a long history of engagement with the process of peace in the region, recently launched a new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue format in the framework of the European Union's EU4Peace initiative. In the last two weeks dozens of Armenians and Azerbaijanis, including academics, students, civil society activists, journalists and other professionals, many of them young, were involved. The work is organised in five thematic groups focusing on peace and security, connectivity, environment, governance and gender and equality and in phase 2 of the project, which has just ended, around fifty participants took part in in-person and online meetings, and more than twenty others were involved indirectly. The Chairpersons of the five thematic groups met in Vilnius, 3-6 July to launch the third phase of the program. The five thematic groups are now working on separate reports, which are expected to be finished in November and presented to the two governments and other stakeholders. The reports will outline a vision, up to 2040.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

Dozens participate in new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue process as societies prepare for the signing of historic peace agreement

The governments of Armenia and Azerbaijan have recently agreed the text of a historic peace agreement that ends years of animosity and warfare. The agreement is expected to be signed soon. LINKS Europe, which has a long history of engagement with the process of peace in the region, recently launched a new Armenia-Azerbaijan dialogue format in the framework of the European Union's EU4Peace initiative. In the last two weeks dozens of Armenians and Azerbaijanis, including academics, students, civil society activists, journalists and other professionals, many of them young, were involved. The work is organised in five thematic groups focusing on peace and security, connectivity, environment, governance and gender and equality and in phase 2 of the project, which has just ended, around fifty participants took part in in-person and online meetings, and more than twenty others were involved indirectly. The Chairpersons of the five thematic groups met in Vilnius, 3-6 July to launch the third phase of the program. The five thematic groups are now working on separate reports, which are expected to be finished in November and presented to the two governments and other stakeholders. The reports will outline a vision, up to 2040.