YEREVAN, 28 MARCH, ARMENPRESS. The third joint session of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Compatriots of the State Duma of the Russian Federation kicked off at the National Assembly on March 28. As the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia reports to “Armenpress”, Chairman of the Committee Artak Zakaryan gave a welcome speech in which he attached importance to the joint session and mentioned that it would serve as a major platform for discussing issues of common interest for both societies.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Minister of International Economic Integration and Reforms of the Republic of Armenia, National Coordinator of the Republic of Armenia for CIS Affairs, member of the Eurasian Economic Commission Vache Gabrielyan mentioned that Armenia’s full-fledged accession to the EEU is viewed as a format for development of predictable and maximum mutually beneficial relations hinged on free circulation of products, services, capital and the labor force. According to Gabrielyan, the Eurasian Economic Union is perhaps the largest economic union in terms of geography. The Deputy Prime Minister also touched upon Armenia’s perspectives within the EEU and mentioned: “We realize that integration will require great efforts and that we need to use the potential of cooperation in all possible formats.”

Chairman of the Committee on CIS Affairs, Eurasian Integration and Compatriots of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation Leonid Slutsky emphasized that the two Committees have worked very hard during the previous two joint sessions and attached importance to cooperation at the international level and holding meetings more regularly.

During exchange of views, the Russian and Armenian deputies talked about the peculiarities of Armenia’s accession to the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union, the activities carried out for integration, as well as the problems and challenges.

The session continues.