ArmInfo. The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, met with Vice President and Chairman of the Upper House of the Parliament of the Republic of India, Venkaiah Naidu, on November 3 during his working visit to India.
According to the Presidential press service, thanking for the warm welcome, the president talking about strengthening the Armenian-Indian interstate relations attached great importance to active inter- parliamentary cooperation. With warmth, recalling the meeting held in Yerevan this spring with former Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari and the effective discussion of issues relating to the Armenian-Indian relations, Serzh Sargsyan expressed hope that Venkaiah Naidu will also be able to visit Armenia. This visit, according to Serzh Sargsyan, will have a great influence in strengthening bilateral intergovernmental relations and especially parliamentary relations.
Venkaiah Naidu, in his turn, noted that the ancient and rich culture of the Indian and Armenian peoples has many valuable communities, these are creating, peace-loving and hospitable people. According to him, it is necessary to continue to work in the direction of preserving and strengthening centuries-old friendship, as well as combining efforts in combating the universal and topical challenges, one of which is terrorism.
Serzh Sargsyan and Venkaiah Naidu pointed out that the views and approaches of the two countries coincide in the issue of the need for reforms in international structures, including in the UN, so that they can respond to challenges in accordance with the requirements of the times. S. Sargsyan informed his interlocutor that a deputy group of friendship with India has already been formed in the newly elected parliament of Armenia. According to him, not only parliamentary diplomacy plays an important role in the activation of Armenian-Indian relations, but an increase in the number of mutual visits at a high level.
The sides noted that friendly countries could continue and deepen successful cooperation also on international parliamentary platforms. During the meeting, issues of development of trade and economic relations, the situation in the South Caucasus, as well as the process of the Karabakh settlement were also discussed. V. Naidu noted the importance of resolving any conflicts exclusively by peaceful means, through dialogue.