Thursday, January 25 2018 00:02

ArmInfo. Armen Ashotyan, Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, on January 24 received the Swedish MP of the European Parliament, a member of the EPP faction Lars Adaktuson, who is in Armenia at the  initiative and invitation of the European Office of Hay Dat (Armenian  Court) of the ARF. The head of the European office of Hay Dat G.  Karapetyan attended the meeting.

As reported by the press service of the Parliament, Ashotyan  addressed to issues concerning bilateral and multilateral  cooperation, as well as parliamentary diplomacy. The chairman of the  commission noted that Armenia in its foreign policy is guided by the  art of not quick-witted, but wise steps, trying to avoid dividing  lines. In this context, the role of the European vector of the  foreign policy of the Republic of Armenia is emphasized - in  combination with friendly and strategic allied relations with Russia.

Referring to the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Expanded Partnership  Agreement, Mr. Ashotyan stressed the importance of early ratification  of the document in national parliaments. The commission's chairman  noted that although each of the national parliaments has its own  priorities for forming a political agenda, nevertheless, the Armenian  side expects to stimulate the process of ratification of the  agreement, in which the deputies of the European Parliament can also  play their role.

Turning to the process of peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh  conflict, Armen Ashotyan stressed that the Artsakh movement, whose  30th anniversary is celebrated this year, can in no way be described  as geopolitical. In this regard, he added that the conflict is  exclusively national, based on the desire of the people of Artsakh to  realize democratic values, on the differences in the value system  with Azerbaijan and the impossibility of overcoming them. The  commission's chairman noted that active participation in the conflict  settlement process is expected from the members of the European  Parliament, without consideration as an obstacle to the existence of  the so-called "black list" of Azerbaijan. In this context.  Ashotyan  highlighted the importance of involving the people of  Nagorno-Karabakh in the conflict settlement process, noting that the  people of Nagorno-Karabakh and its expression of will need the  maximum international recognition.

The chairman of the commission in the process of settlement of the  Nagorno-Karabakh conflict highlighted the role and efforts of the  OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs in resolving the issue and preserving  stability in the region. The parties stated that the conflict can not  have a solution without the people of Artsakh.

The interlocutors expressed readiness for closer cooperation on  European parliamentary platforms.

Within the framework of his visit, MEP Lars Adaktuson will also visit  Artsakh.