BRUSSELS -- The European Union and Armenia have agreed on a new pact tightening political ties, more than three years after Yerevan walked away from a more far-reaching political and commercial deal with the EU to join the Russian-led Eurasian Economic Union.

Talks on the agreement concluded during a visit to Brussels by Armenian President Serzh Sarkisian on February 27.

It is expected to be signed later this year, possibly in May.

Armenia negotiated an Association Agreement that included a free-trade deal with the EU in 2013, only to make a U-turn that same year and reject it under pressure from Moscow.

The negotiations on a new agreement with the EU started in December 2015.

It is less ambitious than the agreement that was abandoned in 2013, most notably lacking a free trade area component -- which Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine now have as part of their agreements with the EU. But it will upgrade political relations between Brussels and Yerevan, which are currently based on a Partnership and Cooperation agreement that entered into force in 1999.

Armenia's fierce rival, Azerbaijan, started talks on a new political agreement with the EU earlier this month.</s>At a press briefing today in Brussels with European Council President Donald Tusk, visiting Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan announced that Armenia had reached a new Framework Agreement with European Union.

According to a statement released by Sargsyan’s press office, the Armenian president and Tusk had a private meeting before the briefing, during which the two discussed the process of reforms in Armenia, the upcoming parliamentary election, and the Karabakh conflict settlement process.

“I again wish to express my thanks to the president of the European Council and our good friend Mr. Donal Tusk for inviting me to Brussels and for our frank and substantive discussion,” Sargsyan said at the press briefing.

While no specifics regarding the new Framework Agreement were provided, Sargsyan said the two also discussed other issues on the Armenia-EU agenda, as well as regional and international developments.</s>Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan has issued the following appeal to Armenians overseas “take part in building the future of our homeland.” Arguing that “Armenia and Diaspora are two parts of a whole”, Karapetyan says his government wants to work with those living outside Armenia who are concerned about the future of the country. As to how concerned Armenians overseas can link up with the government in such projects remains somewhat unclear. While Karapetyan says it’s vital to “tap the potential of the diaspora”, his appeal is short on specifics.

I have the honor to call upon you and all those who are not indifferent to Armenia to take part in building the future of our homeland.

Armenia and Diaspora are two parts of a whole: we are linked with each other through the chain of history, one destiny and shared concern for the future of our Homeland.

We are bound by duty and responsibility, which makes us join efforts, multiply the opportunities and redress our standing in this world. We have no other option than the imperative to build a good country and have a powerful and fair homeland.

The time has come for us to turn around and say: changes may only come through our own forces and intelligence. On the road of independence, we have had both success and failures due to objective and subjective factors. Now, as we realize what has gone wrong, no longer we have the right to make another mistake.

Our country’s geopolitical position and today’s challenges oblige us to be smart and make a better use of our competitive advantages. Our wealth today is defined not by oil and gas, but by the intelligent human potential of Armenia, Diaspora and Artsakh.

We are going to implement changes, and to achieve this horizon we have set a clear formula: patriotic team, will, intelligent management and such programs as may become the driving force for qualitative changes in the overall environment.

We hereby invite our Diaspora-based managers, artists, our compatriots with international recognition in the field of education and science to take part in the ongoing reforms, primarily in order to bring in a new management culture and put the knowledge and the potential of our best experts at the service of all-Armenian interests.

In this regard, the Diaspora is an asset for us. Not tapping the potential of the Diaspora would suppose that we are self-centered and self-contained. Not handing over to our colleagues, students and youth the advanced expertise available in the Diaspora would mean that we are ineffective in today’s rapidly changing world.

The culture shaped in the Diaspora has to be made prominent in our daily live: I do believe that every contact with our compatriots will give us new impetus and invaluable inspiration, but the result can definitely lead to a better vision of the world, greater tolerance for other value systems, improved efficiency and operational control. This will be our common success.

I am confident that with your direct participation we will be able to get quick results in key areas and have the most advanced economic, health and educational systems in the region.

While keeping to our traditional values, we should be open and tolerant towards the outside world. With your help, we need to learn the best skills of other cultures and also make Armenia more recognizable to the world.

I have an inner conviction that regardless of your place of residence, all your ideas and thoughts are turned to Armenia, and that your sense of pride and dignity depends on Homeland’s prosperity. Let us do everything to support each other and work together to build the country’s future so that our children might be assured that in a short while Armenia will come to keep pace with those advanced nations, for which the Armenians often leave in anticipation of a better life.

Rest assured that Armenia will be the best country for all Armenians!

Every Armenian who cares for the future of our country, every Armenian who simply feels the calling has to take a share in the common cause. Irrespective of our place of residence, political affiliation or social status, we are all bound by an idea about which we should unite and stand together: powerful, keen on historical values and traditions, but at the same time, a modern and proud Armenia!

I am urging you to build such homeland as we would be proud of and proudly call ourselves Armenians!

We are waiting for you with love</s>Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan today discussed steps being taken in Armenia to spur democratic reforms with European People’s Party (EPP) President Joseph Daul during a meeting in Brussels.

Sargsyan and Daul also discussed Armenia’s desire for developing stronger relations with the European Union.

Given that Sargsyan’s Republican Party of Armenia is an observer member of the EPP, the Armenian president and Daul also discussed avenues to strengthen cooperation between the two parties, as well as cooperation on international platforms.

Sargsyan told Daul that Armenia agrees with the position of the OSCE Minsk Group that there is no other option for a settlement of the Karabakh conflict other than a peaceful one.</s>With this open letter we, a group of civil society and human rights organizations from Armenia appeal to Diaspora Armenians – individuals, organizations and non-formal groups - to take an active stance in the political life of Armenia.

We have always felt the great love of Diaspora for our country and are indeed grateful for immense and tireless support that our compatriots abroad were rendering to the people of Armenia throughout many years. However, since Armenia’s independence in 1991, we have lived – and you have witnessed – the heart-breaking conditions of our country: poverty, depopulation, and the slow surrender of our national sovereignty. Continuously rigged elections and political corruption have concentrated almost all socio economic power in the hands of an unrepresentative oligarchic elite. Natural resources are depleted to serve short-term and small group interests; poverty and social injustice grow in parallel with the remarkably improving welfare of a number of decision-makers. Civic and political rights of citizens are systematically violated, peaceful assemblies against the injustice are brutally cracked down and the controlled judiciary fails to ensure fair judgments, increasing the number of political prisoners. After all, the 4-day war of April 2016 revealed how the uncontrolled and unpunished corruption exhausts the resources of the Armenian Army and threatens the security of Armenia.

Twenty-five years after the Independence, we can no longer consider these conditions to be the birth-pains of a new republic. Though it may not seem apparent upon first glance, the lack of democracy underpins nearly all other national issues. Indeed, democracy is at the heart of nation-building in the 21st century.

We, the undersigned, have worked and fought tirelessly for rule of law and democracy in Armenia. We have developed the infrastructure and activated our citizens in monitoring elections – the single most fundamental process of democracy. But our resources have been limited.

We are writing to tell you that we need you. Not your donations or remittances, but you – your spirit and physical presence in Armenia – here on the ground, at the voting precincts – engaging, observing, and taking ownership of your role in this historic quest for Armenian democracy.

The upcoming Parliamentary Elections are of paramount importance for the country. As a result of the Constitutional Referendum of 2015, which was itself marred by rampant corruption, Armenia now begins its transition to a parliamentary republic. This means there will be no further presidential elections, and the upcoming Parliamentary Elections will decide the future of Armenia.

We urge all the Diaspora organizations, institutions and active individuals to join us in our endeavors and render your support to promote justice, human rights, free and fair elections, accountable governance, civil rights and dignity. Get in touch with us, come to us and let’s walk this path together.

The future of Armenia is democratic, and that future begins today, with your participation and solidarity.

Find out how to join our election observation efforts by visiting www.citizenobserver.am or emailing info@citizenobserver.am. We encourage all Armenians of the Diaspora to join, regardless of age, citizenship, political affiliation, or fluency in Armenian.

“Public Information and Need of Knowledge” NGO

Foundation against the Violation of Law
Armenia and the European Union agree on a new pact to boost ties between the two. It is expected to be signed later this year. This comes after Armenia rejected an Association Agreement in 2013.