ArmInfo.RA NA Deputy Speaker Hakob Arshakyan received the delegation led by head of the Syria-Armenia Friendship Group of the People's Assembly of the Syrian Arab Republic Lucy Iskanyan.
As the Press Service of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia reports, welcoming the guests, the NA Deputy Speaker noted that the Armenian people have the warmest feelings towards Syria, with which we are connected by historical and cultural communities and centuries-old warm friendship.
According to Hakob Arshakyan, Syria was of crucial importance in the history of the Armenian people. The friendly people of Syria extended a helping hand to hundreds of thousands of Armenians who escaped from the genocide. Referring to the situation after the war unleashed by the Azerbaijani-Turkish tandem against Artsakh, the NA Vice Speaker stressed that Azerbaijan, through Turkey, brought mercenaries from Syria and other countries of the region into the war.
"Although a lot of time has passed since the signing of the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020, the situation remains fragile. Azerbaijan continues its provocative actions against the sovereign territory of Armenia, endangering stability and peace in the region," Hakob Arshakyan stated and added that Armenia continues efforts to establish lasting peace in the region.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Syria. Hakob Arshakyan, in the context of strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation, emphasized the role of inter-parliamentary cooperation, the activities of parliamentary friendship groups. On this issue, the
NA Vice Speaker also stressed the role of the Armenian community in Syria and added that our country highly appreciates the brotherly attitude of the Syrian authorities and people towards the Syrian Armenians.
Lucy Iskanyan also stressed the importance of deepening bilateral relations and conveyed warm greetings to Hakob Arshakyan and the Armenian legislators from the chairman of the Syrian Parliament and readiness to expand cooperation. Speaking about the regional situation, the head of the friendship group noted that Syria also felt the consequences of the actions of terrorists. She stressed the importance of implementing the agreements signed between the two countries, which have slowed down as a result of the Syrian crisis.
The parties stressed the importance of efforts to establish long-term peace and stability in the region.
Arshakyan also met today with the delegation headed by Chairman of the Israel-Armenia Friendship Group of the Knesset, MP from the "Meretz" party Mossi Raz. Touching upon the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, the RA NA Vice Speaker expressed hope that Israel would recognize the Genocide. "The Armenian and Jewish peoples, who survived the horrors of the genocide, have a moral duty to unite their efforts in this matter," he said. The NA Deputy Speaker considered the Israel-Azerbaijan military-technical cooperation problematic and especially the non-stopping of arms supplies to Azerbaijan during the 44-day war in 2020.
Hakob Arshakyan also touched upon the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations. Mossi Raz, Chairman of the Israel-Armenia Friendship Group, noted that he had planned his first visit to Armenia on April 24, so that on this symbolic day the memory of 1.5 million killed would be commemorated. The parties touched upon the need to exchange experience in various fields, intensify contacts between friendship groups.