On April 29, the Armenian Foreign Affairs Minister Edward Nalbandian met with Stefan Fule, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy.

Welcoming the guest, Edward Nalbandian said that the rapprochement with the European family is one of the key vectors of Armenia’s foreign policy. The Armenian Foreign Minister also added with satisfaction that the cooperation between Armenia and the EU is expanding and strengthening year by year.

Commissioner Stefan Fule also, in his turn, expressed satisfaction with the relations between Armenia and the EU developing dynamically and said that by launching the Eastern Partnership initiative, the relationship between Armenian and the EU have embarked on qualitatively new level.

The sides had a thorough talk on the projects being implemented in the frames of the European Neighborhood Policy and Eastern Partnership Program, as well as use of entire potential of those projects.

Minister Nalbandian mentioned that the regular political dialogue, the usual high-level visits and joint efforts directed to the development of trade-economic ties between Armenia and the EU promote the deepening of comprehensive interaction.

The sides touched upon the negotiations over the Association Agreement and mentioned with satisfaction about the successful progress of the current stage of the negotiations.

Edward Nalbandian and Stefan Fule exchanged detailed views on visa facilitation regime, as well as the preparatory works on the launching of negotiations over the establishment of deep and comprehensive free trade zone.

The process of implementation of the reforms in Armenia and steps undertaken towards it were on the agenda of the talks, as well.

Regarding the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, the sides mutually mentioned that peaceful and negotiated settlement of the issue based on the principles of international right has no alternative.

The joint press conference of Edward Nalbandian and Stefan Fule followed the meeting.