Armenian parliament to discuss referendum on joining EU on June 21

YEREVAN. June 17 (Interfax) - The Armenian parliament will hold a hearing for arranging a referendum on filing a bid to join the European Union.

The parliament's Standing Committee on European Integration approved the decision to hold such a hearing on June 21 at an extraordinary meeting on Monday.

The referendum was proposed by the Platform of Democratic Forces comprising the pro-Western parties Hanrapetutyun (Republic), In the Name of the Republic, the Christian-Democratic Party, and the European Party of Armenia.

Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan met with the ambassadors of the EU countries accredited in Yerevan on Monday to inform them about beginning negotiations on new partnership programs with the EU.

"Important to continue joint intensive efforts with EU as we embark on negotiations on new partnership agenda," Mirzoyan wrote on his social account.

Mirzoyan had said at the end of May that Armenia and the European Union were reviewing their relations in favor of their more vigorous development which would go beyond the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Armenia and the EU are discussing new cooperation tools in keeping with Yerevan's declared willingness to be closer to the EU, Mirzoyan said.