Vigen Sargsyan: We will consistently press ahead with reforms

“Armenia’s participation in the formats bringing it closer to the European family is a conscious choice of Armenia dictated by its political and cultural self-consciousness. The decision about entry into the Customs Union was edited, but it did not cancel the Armenia-EU agenda,” the Chief of the Armenian President’s Staff Vigen Sargsyan said at the international conference ‘European Integration 2013. Prospects of EU-Armenia Relations after the Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius’.

“We are prepared to continue our cooperation within the Eastern Partnership framework and will consistently press ahead with reforms. The coming year will be a crucial one for further development of the Eastern Partnership in terms searching for new solutions and new cooperation models. We continue to act on the premise that the idea of a free trade area from Lisbon to Vladivostok will certainly become a reality as the compatibility of integration processes stems from everyone’s interests,” Vigen Sargsyan said.

In his words, Armenia’s refusal to initial the Association Agreement should not reduce Armenia’s aspiration to cooperate with Europe or cast a shade on the work already done.

V. Sargsyan expressed hope that new agreement frames can be created based on the Association Agreement.

“Flexibility is what causes dissatisfaction after Vilnius, whereas flexibility should become a key message in the post-Vilnius stage,” Vigen Sargsyan said, stressing the need to find further ways of cooperation.