YEREVAN, 23 MAY, ARMENPRESS. In honor of the delegation led by Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Eduard Sharmazanov, who is on a working visit to Japan, which includes head of the Armenia-Japan Parliamentary Friendship Group Samvel Farmanyan and member Alexander Arzumanyan, a lunch was served on behalf of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Japan Tatsuo Kawabata at the residence of the Deputy Speaker. As the Department of Public Relations and Mass Media of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia reports to “Armenpress”, the delegation of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia was accompanied by Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Armenia to Japan Hrant Poghosyan. The Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly delivered a speech during the lunch.

 It is a great honor for us to be in Japan. Allow me to express gratitude to the Deputy Speaker Tatsuo Kawabata for the cordial reception on behalf of the Armenian delegation. I am certain that our visit will give new impetus to further development of the political and economic relations between the two countries, the deepening of partnership and the strengthening of inter-parliamentary relations.

 Of course, the official visit of President of the Republic of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan to Japan in 2012 served as a great impetus for further development and strengthening of the Armenian-Japanese cooperation in the bilateral format and at the international level.

Dear colleagues,

 Japan was one of the first countries with which Armenia established diplomatic relations following Armenia’s independence. Japan provided great technical and other forms of assistance for the social and economic development of Armenia during the years of independence. The Armenian people are also grateful to Japan for the support that it provided to Armenia to overcome the consequences of the 1988 devastating earthquake.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Indeed, the expansion of cultural cooperation also has a pivotal role and significance in the development of the bilateral relations. Over the past years, Armenian and Japanese artists have been participating in cultural events organized in Japan and Armenia. Moreover, the Japanese Embassy in Moscow has already hosted five Japanese film festivals in Armenia.

 We would also like to express our satisfaction with the fact that Tokyo hosted the “Nights of Armenian Cinema” event (25-27 April) within the framework of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide. These days (19-24 May) Tokyo is hosting the “Armenian Culture Week” event, and Armenian performers and ensembles will be giving concerts in Japan until the end of the year.

 Recently, Japanese cherry trees (sakuras) were planted in the park of the National Assembly on the occasion of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide and the 70^th anniversary of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I am certain that the sakura, which is the symbol of Japan, will always remind about the strong friendship between the two nations. We Armenian and Japanese parliamentarians must fight together to prevent future crimes against humanity.

 Once again, I thank you, Mr. Deputy Speaker for hosting the Armenian delegation and fully hope this will bring a new sweep to the development of inter-parliamentary relations and the strengthening of the mutually beneficial cooperation.

 Thank you for your attention.”