YEREVAN, JULY 16, ARMENPRESS. On July 16, NA Deputy Speaker, Head of the NA Armenia-Latvia Friendship Group Eduard Sharmazanov received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to Armenia Elita Gavele. The meeting was also attended by Honorary Consul of the Republic of Latvia in Armenia Armen Ghasaboghlyan. As "Armenpress" was informed from the Department of Public Relations and Mass Media of the Parliament, welcoming the guests, Sharmazanov underscored Latvia’s forthcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), and expressed hope that this will give new impetus to Armenia-EU political relations and Armenia-Latvia collaboration. He emphasized that Armenia highlights the continuity of discourse with the EU. 

Turning to the issues of regional security, Eduard Sharmazanov highlighted the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, noting that war is not the way to settle conflicts. He stressed that Azerbaijan pursues a destructive and destabilizing policy. Ambassador Gavele, for her part, noted that Latvia and the European organizations likewise advocate solely a peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Speaking of the issue of international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, Eduard Sharmazanov stated that unless the international community recognizes the Armenian Genocide and considers it as the greatest evil committed against humanity, the chance of new genocides will not be ruled out. 

During the meeting the interlocutors discussed the ways of further development of the Armenian-Latvian relations and interparliamentary ties. The necessity of giving new impetus to the relations and finding new edges of interaction was highlighted.