On February 21 Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian received the delegation of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs which is in Armenia on a regional visit.

Welcoming the guests, Minister Nalbandian expressed satisfaction about the high-level political dialogue with the EU and high-ranking reciprocal visits, as well as intensively developing interaction, and in this context, stressed the importance of inter-parliamentary format.

The sides mentioned with satisfaction that a considerable progress has been made in the negotiations over the Association Agreement since the start of the negotiations in July of 2010. It was stressed that so far 22 Chapters of future Agreement have been negotiated and temporarily closed by the economic, sectoral and financial cooperation group, and a good progress has been achieved in the spheres of political dialogue and reforms, foreign and security policy, and justice.

The sides mutually stressed the importance of the EU’s decision to start with Armenia the negotiations over the creation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. In this regard, it was noted that serious reforms were implemented in Armenia and considerable results were achieved in some areas.

Upon the request of the delegation of the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs Minister Nalbandian presented in detail the current stage of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. In this context it was mentioned that the EU fully supports the efforts being undertaken by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs which has an appropriate mandate and rich experience of mediation.

The sides discussed a number of regional issues of mutual interest.