ArmInfo.The meeting of the Foreign Ministers of the Eastern Partnership countries in the format of a videoconference was effective, and, of course, this dialogue is necessary.
As reported by the Armenian Foreign Ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Avet Adonts stated this during an interview on the government platform, touching on a high-level meeting in a videoconference format as part of the Eastern Partnership.
At the same time, the Armenian diplomat noted that the agenda of the meeting naturally included the issue of combating the COVID-19 pandemic and ways to overcome its consequences, as well as discussing the priorities of the EU Eastern Partnership program. "And since this high-level meeting was held in the form of a video conference, it was decided that this time no declaration or final document would be accepted, but it would be implemented early next year," Adonts said.
Touching upon international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic, the Deputy Minister stated that COVID-19 is the number one challenge in the international arena, and the main condition for overcoming it is unity and solidarity.
At the same time, he added that these are not just words, they have a rich and practical content, the fruits of which are already felt today, in the same Armenia.
He emphasized that a large number of states extended a helping hand to Armenia in the fight against the pandemic, noting that there are so many of them that the entire television broadcast may not be enough to list them. "The geography is quite wide - the USA, EU member states and non-members, for example: Switzerland or Serbia, as well as Russia, China, India, Japan, provided protective equipment, masks, other medical protective equipment and technical devices, ventilation devices, medicines and much more. For example, in the first stage, India sent us medicines that were quite difficult to obtain. Help from China was quite multidisciplinary. In the context of EU support, I can mention a program worth 3 million euros, which, with the assistance of the World Health Organization, was moved from China to Armenia
And, of course, the European Union aid package for 92 million euros, the purpose of which is not only to overcome the coronavirus, but also its socio-economic consequences. This package also includes budget support, assistance to small and medium enterprises and civil society, "said Adonts.
Clarifying whether the indicated assistance of 92 million euros has already been fully transferred to the Armenian side, the deputy foreign minister noted that a quick response program worth 3 million euros has been fully implemented.
He added that the assistance program worth 92 million euros would be the result of a consistent process, not long-term, but time-consuming.
Clarifying whether such a large EU assistance is the result of the fight against the pandemic, the difficult situation in the republic or partnership, Adonts said that assistance is provided not only through the European Union, but also various UN agencies. As an example, he cited the World Food Organization, the World Bank. "All the support programs that were offered to us and implemented in Armenia are friendly. And if your question, in particular, related to the EU, then we are reliable partners with the European Union. The European Union is one of our most important political and trade partners," the deputy head of the foreign ministry of Armenia summarized.