YEREVAN (ARKA), May 27–Armenia expects support from European Commission for sealing a comprehensive free-trade agreement, Armenian President Serge Sarkisian said Wednesday at his meeting with EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht in Belgium, as the president’s press office reports.

This Armenia-EU agreement will foster Armenia’s integration in European markets and spur economic reforms in Armenia to give new room for Armenian businesses.

“We understand very well this complicated and time-consuming process of signing this agreement,” Sarkisian said. “That is why we expect your active support for reaching results as soon as possible.” The head of state said that Armenia attaches importance to this agreement, since the European Union is among Armenia’s key trade partners.

He said that Armenia joined the World Trade Organization in 2003 and has implemented many substantial reforms since then.

The National Statistical Service of Armenia says Armenia’s trade turnover with EU countries reached $328.6 million in the first quarter of this year after growing 39.9 percent, compared with the same period of the previous year.

Trade turnover with European Union made up 32.4 percent of Armenia’s total foreign trade turnover in the 1st quarter 2010.

The country’s exports to EU countries totaled $107.2 million (about 54 percent of total export), and imports from European Union totaled $187.2 million (27.1 percent year-on-year growth) and made up 23 percent of total imports.