On June 21, 2018 the European Union and Armenia held the first meeting of the Partnership Council under the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was signed on 24 November 2017 and entered into provisional application on 1 June 2018. The Council is the highest body established under the CEPA to supervise the implementation of the Agreement and to discuss issues of mutual interest. Armenia and the EU expressed their willingness to expand and deepen cooperation within the framework of this new legal basis, the Eastern Partnership and the reviewed European Neighbourhood Policy.

The Council was chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Ms. Federica Mogherini. Foreign Minister Mr. Zohrab Mnatsakanyan led the Armenian delegation.

What follows is an official transcript of Minister Mnatsakanyan’s address at the Council meeting:

High Representative Mogherini,

Thank you for a very warm welcome․ This is indeed a very symbolic and important time in our relations that we have gathered for the first Partnership Council after the signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. It is also happening at the time, which follows the important developments in Armenia.

Indeed, we have reconfirmed and emphasized the important and fundamental mandate that the Government has from the people, from the public of Armenia to strengthen principles of constitutional order, rule of law, democratic principles, promotion and protection of rights for fairness and equal opportunities in every activity - economic, social and other activities in the country. And the Government is absolutely determined and very forceful to take this mandate forward and to deliver on the expectations of the public and to deliver on the mandate that the Government firmly hands for this purpose. I also thank you very much for the support of the European Union, the support and the readiness to work with us on promoting this agenda. You have been an important partner for Armenia on these matters. We expect to take this further and to manifest it in support and assistance from the European Union.

Obviously, as the first Partnership Council has been taking place following the activation of the provisional application of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, our discussions focused on the implementation of the Agreement. For us it is a landmark agreement which is not only the legal foundation of the relations but it is also a very important instrument for Armenia to advance its reforms and partnership that is based on system of values that we share. We focused on the specific aspects of the implementation of the CEPA, on its sectoral partnership in such fields as trade, energy, transport, communications and others. We have talked about the elaboration of a roadmap for further implementation of the CEPA. I have already mentioned that the CEPA has this phase of provisional application following the ratification of the Agreement in the Armenian Parliament. We do look forward and encourage all our partners, member-states of the European Union to accelerate the process of ratification in their Parliaments.

We have discussed the EU-Armenia Partnership Priorities. It is another significant document that regulates and guides our cooperation. We also informed our partners in the European Union that we have been re-establishing the Inter-Agency Commission which has been tasked to coordinate and monitor the implementation of the CEPA in our activities, in our work domestically. We stressed our commitment to actively interact within the Eastern Partnership framework. We attach importance to the Eastern Partnership 20 deliverables for 2020. We have exchanged information on the steps that have been already implemented in this regard. It is our conviction that these targeted actions can contribute to the promotion of regional coherence, cooperation and dialogue between the EU and the Eastern Neighbors and amongst the partners themselves.

We also exchanged views on launching the visa liberalization dialogue. It is an important commitment form the Riga summit of the Eastern Partnership. We have been consistent in taking our actions, making steps towards the implementation of visa facilitation and readmission agreement. And we are looking forward to move on with this agenda and we insist to be judged on our own merit. We also emphasize that the visa liberalization is important in many ways, not least, and perhaps mostly that it will promote the people-to-people contact, promote more interaction amongst our public and it's a very good way of fundamentally strengthening relations we have with the European Union.

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