New document with the EU not to differ much from the treaty not signed in Vilnius (video)
The European Union and the Council of Europe have provided EUR 2.2 million to Armenia for the improvement of electoral processes in the country, fight against ill-treatment and impunity, implementation of projects aimed at strengthening healthcare and human rights defense in Armenian prisons. “We have carried out many projects in Armenia and have already provided EUR 12 million for carrying out renovations in the prisons. We have built dozens of colleges, technical support has been provided, at the same time we work with the representatives of the civil society, we support about fifty coalitions and platforms,” says Hoa-Binh Adjemian, Head of Cooperation of the EU Delegation to Armenia. The European Union has been supporting Armenia for many years for ensuring progress in the spheres of human rights, justice, democracy, but according to the assessment of many specialists, we are still lagging behind the expected results. What is the reason for such a situation? Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Head of European Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is answering the question of “A1+”: “Progress is noticeable in the sphere of justice, there is still much work in a number of spheres, but looking at the history of European countries ten or twenty years aren’t enough, but Armenia always confirms its commitment. The European Union has the same wish- to continue the work with Armenia in the abovementioned spheres.” Armenia, which didn’t sign the Association Agreement with the European Union, is going to sign a new document with the EU. According to the information of a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the activities of drafting the document will be over in the near future. “Soon the negotiations over the new agreement will begin. We know the cooperation and partnership agreement with the EU already doesn’t correspond to our level of cooperation and needs. The new document will not only reflect the accomplishments, but will also outline new spheres. I think the new negotiations will be over in the first quarter of next year.” He thinks that the new document with the European Union will not differ much from the agreement not signed in Vilnius, “Being a member of the Eurasian Economic Union, cooperation in the sphere of trade is already limited, naturally, in that sphere they must be more consentient with our new commitments. Provisions relating to democracy, justice, human rights won’t change. It is a proof that it is one of our priorities with the European Union.”
