ArmInfo. On June 28, the delegation headed by the Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia, the head of the Armenia-Czech Republic friendship group Eduard Sharmazanov, met with Deputy Foreign Minister Lukash Kautsky during his visit to the Czech Republic.
Having positively evaluated the dynamics of the development of the Armenian-Czech relations, the sides stressed the importance of further development of bilateral relations. The interlocutors addressed the need to continue the political dialogue between the Republic of Armenia and the EU. The NA Vice Speaker stated that Armenia, together with the European partners, is committed to the consistent expansion and deepening of the process of institutional reforms aimed at strengthening democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
Referring to regional problems, E. Sharmazanov noted that Turkey continues its denial policy, holds the border with the Armenia and supports the terrorist actions of Azerbaijan. "Unlike Azerbaijan and Turkey, the people of Artsakh build a democratic country. Both Armenia and Artsakh are full-fledged bearers of the European system of values and civilization," the vice speaker of the National Assembly said, in which context the parties considered unacceptable militaristic rhetoric and military solution of the problem.
Lukasz Kaucki positively assessed the process of democratic reforms in Armenia and stressed that the Czech Republic, as a member state of the EU, is ready to contribute to the continuation of democratic reforms in Armenia. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic highly appreciated the decision of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the country on the adoption on April 25, 2017 of a resolution on recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.
To note, on June 27 in the honor of the delegation headed by the NA Vice Speaker, on behalf of the chairman of the Czech-Armenia friendship group, the Parliament of the Czech Republic, Robin Bienis, an official reception was organized in the Chamber of Deputies. For contribution to the adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide, as well as for active work towards strengthening the Czech-Armenian inter-parliamentary relations, Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly Sharmazanov handed a number of deputies to the Chamber the RA NA Medal of Honor, the RA NA Honorary Diploma and the Memorial Medal of the NA Speaker RA. In his speech Sharmazanov, in particular, stressed: "The adoption of the resolution recognizing and condemning the Armenian Genocide is a serious step in the defense of human rights and against genocides. The Armenian Genocide was the first in the twentieth century greatest disaster for humanity, and the recognition of the genocide by the Czech Republic is your country's response to barbarism. We admire your courage, thus you prevent new genocides. It should be noted that Turkey has not changed for 102 years - it continues its denial policy. We must together fight against the Turkish policy of denial and in the name of protecting human rights."