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“Distinguished Ambassadors, dear Colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome this joint initiative of the RA NA Standing Committees on Foreign Relations and on European Integration to organize parliamentary hearings on the RA-EU Agreement.

The theme of today’s parliamentary hearings is topical and is necessary for our political agenda. They are held in the fresh traces of an important event – the signing of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union. If we look through the pages of our history, we’ll see numerous pages connecting Armenia and Europe. Now I would like to create a new, modern history of our relations based on the past and directed to the future. We have that wish, potential and opportunities, as well as the political will which guarantees the newest procedure of cooperation between Armenia and Europe. However, we don't have the goal to build and strengthen those relations at the price of cooperation with any other country or structure. Armenia has never been led by opposing the interests of its colleagues, moreover its friends, on the contrary, we have always aspired to compare those interests. This is the very peculiarity, by which our state is bestowed, and which is assessed by the partner states and structures, too. Dear friends, it is symbolical that the Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union was signed in the 60th anniversary of the first step to United Europe – Rome Agreement.

As more than six decades ago a number of European countries founded a unique union with common institutions and powerful values, so a few days ago such a unique Agreement was signed between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union, unique in a sense that our country that signed the Agreement with the European Union, with its historical, geographical and political unique position bridges the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union.

The signed Agreement is a serious basis to strengthen the political dialogue and continue the economic and social reforms, to create an Armenian-European united area of democracy, welfare, stability and cooperation. The EU is not only an important trade-economic and political partner, but it also has a rich experience of legal-legislative and scientific-technical development. We positively assess the perspective of the further cooperation, and we hope to deepen the practical dialogue with the European colleagues. We have to give a lot to each other, and it is not a trade, but a civilized relationship and cooperation between the countries with similar system of values.

Dear friends, Armenia attaches great importance to the system of European security, cooperating in different formats within the framework of different programmes. The modern European system of security is based on a peculiar triangle – the EU, the OSCE and the NATO. In fact, the OSCE is the most active participant of the Artsakh conflict settlement on behalf of the only structure with an international mandate – the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. On the other hand, the membership to the main warrant organization of security on the post-Soviet and CIS territory, the CSTO, is of great importance for us. The Republic of Armenia can balance at best the cooperation with these two systems of security, at the same time having certain role in promoting the leveling of the problems existing between them. We are considered to be an inseparable part of the Eurasian territory and at the same of Europe. And we cannot be out of the Eurasian, as well as the pan-European processes. As neighbours that have no common borders, as colleagues who are able to overcome any distance, we should form stable and mutually confident relations, together breaking the existing and possible stereotypes. We are ready at maximum to use the possibilities and tools of this cooperation. We believe that the cooperation between Armenia and the European Union and its structures from now on will further deepen, being based on the formed good traditions and experience for peace, stable development and progress.

Once again I welcome you and wish you effective discussions.”