Piotr Switalski: We expect that the upcoming elections will be the  best in Armenia`s history 

ArmInfo.Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan received yesterday the Ambassadors accredited to Armenia by the European Union member states headed by the head of the  EU delegation, Ambassador Piotr Switalski.

According to the press service of the Armenian government, Nikol  Pashinyan noted that the development of relations with the European  Union is one of the priorities of Armenia's foreign policy and  stressed the importance of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership  Agreement, which provides effective mechanisms for developing  bilateral partnership and implementing reforms in Armenia. According  to him, the interdepartmental commission has already developed and  submitted for discussion in the EU a roadmap for the implementation  of the agreement. The Acting Prime Minister noted that Armenia is in  the process of historical changes, and reforms are aimed at  developing democracy and the economy, fighting corruption,  modernizing the justice system, protecting human rights,  strengthening freedom of speech, etc. According to Nikol Pashinyan,  all changes and reforms are based on the demand of society. Pashinyan  stressed the importance of financial and technical assistance  provided by the EU to Armenia, and expressed confidence that thanks  to this all the planned programs are more effective and substantive.  Nikol Pashinyan noted that the fight against corruption and reforms  in the above-mentioned directions in the new Armenia are a priority  for the government.

Touching upon the upcoming parliamentary elections, Nikol Pashinyan  stressed that they will be of great importance in terms of  strengthening democracy in Armenia. "The new parliament and  government will be built on broad public support and trust, which  will help complete the process begun by the velvet revolution,"  Pashinyan said. Thanking the EU for support in organizing the  elections, the acting head of the Armenian government announced about  the plans of the Armenian Cabinet of Ministers to reform the  political and economic institutions in the republic. At the same  time, as Pashinyan stressed, EU support will help to complement the  existing opportunities for Armenia in order to make reforms more  effective. "It's not by chance that today, when we have made  significant progress in strengthening democracy, our society expects  greater support from European partners," Nikol Pashinyan said.

The acting head of government added that the Eastern Partnership is  the driving force of Armenia's cooperation with the EU, and Armenia  is ready to do everything possible to maximize effective cooperation.  Nikol Pashinyan attached great importance to the expansion of  cooperation in the fields of trade and investment, as well as the  implementation of relevant steps. "The more effectively we strengthen  the rule of law and the creation of equal conditions in the economy,  the broader the prospects are for the development of bilateral  economic cooperation and attraction of investments from the EU  countries", the Acting Prime Minister said, noting the importance of  steps to liberalize the visa regime.

Nikol Pashinyan expressed satisfaction with the EU's balanced  approach to the settlement of the Artsakh problem and support for the  efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs. Pashinyan stressed the  importance of closer acquaintance with the needs and aspirations of  the people of Artsakh. He drew attention to the need to use in the EU  documents agreed language that would correspond to the position of  the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, and also stressed the importance of  the EU's consistent efforts to prevent military escalations and  provocations in the region.

Piotr Switalski, in turn, stressed the fact of positive changes in  Armenia and expressed confidence that they will provide a new result  for the Armenian people. According to the Ambassador, the  implementation of programs for specific areas within the framework of  the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement will contribute  to the implementation of comprehensive and institutional reforms in  Armenia, which will give new impetus to the development and progress  of our country.

The head of the European delegation in Armenia noted the importance  of the government's steps to implement targeted and consistent  programs to combat corruption, modernize the management system,  protect human rights, strengthen freedom of speech, and improve the  investment environment. The Ambassador stressed that the EU is ready  to continue supporting Armenia. He expressed confidence that with the  support of the EU, extraordinary parliamentary elections will be  free, fair and transparent. "We are expecting the best elections in  the history of Armenia," Piotr Switalski stressed.

During the meeting, Nikol Pashinyan answered the questions of the  ambassadors regarding political changes in Armenia, the reform  process, the upcoming parliamentary elections, the settlement of the  Karabakh conflict and other problems of regional importance.