YEREVAN (Armenpress)–A session of EU-Armenia commission on parliamentary cooperation took place in Brussels on November 19-21. The Armenian delegation led by the chairman of Armenian National Assembly’s foreign affairs commission Hovhannes Hovhannissian attended the session.
At a press conference on Monday–Hovhannissian said that issues concerning the social and economic state of the country–democracy in Armenia–human rights–the Karabakh conflict–and Armenia’s relations with neighboring countries were discussed.
The Armenian delegation discussed the devastating affects of the blockade of Armenia by Azerbaijan and Turkey at the session. The members of the EU called on Turkey and Azerbaijan to eliminate the blockade or Turkey will have new obstacles to face in its admission into the EU. Hovhannissian said this was a significant achievement.
The participants also discussed the Armenian nuclear power plant. The Armenian delegation said that the plant can be closed only when Armenia–with the support of donor countries–possesses capabilities that produces the volume of energy equal to the output of the nuclear power plant.
During talks about the Karabakh conflict–it was stated that the European Union as well as Council of Europe are devoted to the peaceful settlement of conflict–within the framework of OSCE Minsk group based on the principles determined in Key West and Paris. The European delegates strongly condemned the belligerent statemen’s made by Azerbaijan.
The European delegates also stressed that the European Parliament remains devoted to its decision approved in 1987 concerning the recognition of Armenian Genocide.
The chairman of the EU commission stated that Turkey cannot become a member of European Union anytime within the next 10-15 years–whereas Armenia was advised to cooperate more actively with European Union. "Many deputies have not ignored the possibility of Armenia becoming an associated member of EU after 2004," concluded Hovhannissian.