ArmInfo.Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly Eduard Sharmazanov met on July 9 with Rafail Zinurov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russia.
As the press service of the Parliament reports, during the meeting the sides stressed the importance of the Armenian-Russian allied relations and expressed their readiness to take an active part in strengthening bilateral relations. It is noted that the deepening of the Armenian-Russian allied relations is based on the interests of both countries. Sharmazanov especially highlighted Zinurov's personal contribution to the strengthening of relations between the two countries and peoples.
The Vice-Speaker of the Parliament addressed the problems of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. He confirmed the Armenian position of resolving the conflict exclusively by peaceful means and within the framework of the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group, which is unequivocally not accepted by Azerbaijan. In this context, Sharmazanov noted the concern about the anti-Armenian statements of some Russian officials who, in his opinion, do not correspond to the spirit of the Armenian-Russian allied relations. "Armenia is the guarantor of the security of the people of Artsakh, Artsakh has never been and can not be part of Azerbaijan. In the issue of establishing stability and peace in the region, Turkey and Azerbaijan are a real threat," the vice speaker of the National Assembly said.
Zinurov stressed the efforts of the Armenian side aimed at resolving the Artsakh issue through peaceful negotiations.
Sharmazanov suggested discussing with the Russian colleagues the expediency of organizing in the Federation Council and the State Duma of the Russian Federation the exhibition "Parliamentarians Against Genocide" to mark the 70th anniversary of the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.