Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to Armenia Piotr Switalski assured that they are ready to assist Armenia in organizing extraordinary parliamentary elections.
“We need the message again on how we can help. Assisting Armenia, providing financial support is not an easy task for us, we understand that elections are not far off, so we are serious about supporting, including the financial support, but we need concrete suggestions from the Armenian side”, stressed Piotr Switalski.
The issue of revision of the Schengen visa border codex was also touched upon. Mr. Switalski informed that the EU is considering the issue of revising the Schengen visa border codex. He explained: “No decision has been made yet. There is a proposal which is being discussed. The proposal should be harmonized with the EU Commission’s position. The EU has 6 months to express its position. This is done because there is a strong migration pressure, and I think everyone understands that Europeans are trying to protect their borders, to control the inflow of people. Armenia enjoys the simplification of visa regime, therefore there will be no change with regard to Armenia, even in prices”.
Journalists, referring to Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s statement that Azerbaijan may use provocations at any second, asked whether this will not be against the democracy in the region. Mr. Ambassador replied: “We take such statements very seriously. Everything should be done to prevent escalation. We do our best in this regard, by supporting the work the Minsk Group Co-Chairs carry out. We do not need a new tension in the region, especially in the Karabakh conflict context. I think this is clear from the EU leaders’ statements”.
According to Piotr Switalski, the EU support to Armenia by 2020 will be 100-160 million euros: this decision had been made even before the revolution took place. The Ambassador added: “This amount already includes a 25 percent increase. But this is not all that Armenia can receive and realize, there are also some other ways we use. We must be careful that these funds are spent on valuable programs, otherwise, the money is sent back to EU member states, as the EU does not generate money, it is collected due to our taxpayers and we have to be accountable to them”.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
