ArmInfo. Armenian Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, who is on an official visit to Riga, met with Speaker of the Latvian Parliament Inara Murniece on September 18.
Underscoring the special role of parliamentary diplomacy, the Armenian Foreign Minister and the Speaker of the Latvian Sejm expressed satisfaction with the active Armenian-Latvian cooperation and mutual visits at the parliamentary level, emphasizing the importance of regular dialogue at various levels. In this regard, Mnatsakanyan expressed confidence that his visit to Latvia is a good opportunity to designate new platforms.
cooperation and steps aimed at further strengthening relations between the two countries. The Speaker of the Sejm of Latvia and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia exchanged views on the prospects for promoting cooperation in various fields, noting the importance of fully realizing the potential aimed at developing trade and economic relations, cooperation in the cultural, educational fields, high technologies, e-government, and innovation.
Touching upon the reforms implemented by the Armenian government on the basis of the broad mandate of the people, the minister noted the reform of the judicial system as an important priority. In the context of Armenia-EU cooperation, Mnatsakanyan emphasized the importance of a comprehensive and expanded partnership agreement as a new legal framework in the context of strengthening day-to-day interaction with the EU and EU member states.
The parties also touched upon the tenth anniversary of the Eastern Partnership, in particular, the success achieved in the framework of the Eastern Partnership and the vision for the development of this format of cooperation.
The interlocutors exchanged views on the positions and approaches of the two countries on international and regional issues.
Mnatsakanyan also presented to the interlocutor the principled position and approaches of Armenia in the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
It should be noted that on September 17, Minister Mnatsakanyan met with the leader of the Latvia-Armenia friendship group, the vice-chairman of the legislative body, Maria Golubeva, and some members of the group.
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan and Maria Golubeva positively assessed the potential of cooperation between Armenia and Latvia in the parliamentary format.
The interlocutors touched upon the activities of the Armenian community, which plays an important role in the socio-political life of Latvia and in relations between the two countries.
Touching upon the reforms carried out in the direction of strengthening the rule of law, democratic institutions and protecting human rights, Mnatsakanyan emphasized the active role of civil society in this process.