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YEREVAN, JULY 13, ARMENPRESS: The working visit of the Chairman of the Armenian National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan to Brussels launched July 12. The delegation consists of head of the Armenian NA delegation to “Euronest” Vahan Hovhannissyan, chairman of the NA’s foreign relations standing committee Armen Rustamyan, member of the Armenia-EU parliamentary cooperation commission Artak Zakaryan, head of the NA’s staff Gegham Gharibjanyan, deputy foreign minister Arman Kirakosyan.
NA public relations department told Armenpress that on the first day of the working visit Hovik Abrahamyan met with the President of the Senate of Belgium Armand de Decker.
Welcoming his counterpart President of the Senate noted that Belgium highlights development of bilateral and multilateral relations with Armenia. He considered it necessary to deepen cooperation between the two parliaments which was greatly promoted by his 2009 official visit to Yerevan. The chairman of the Senate expressed hope that the next visit of Hovik Abrahamyan to Brussels will be official and reaffirmed his invitation of the official visit.
Expressing gratitude for warm reception Hovik Abrahamyan highlighted the necessity of developing partnership between the two parliaments, within the framework of PACE and OSCE PA as well as in “Euronest”. He also pointed out the necessity of boosting trade economic and other ties.
During the meeting the parties also discussed regional issues as well. Hovik Abrahamyan presented Armenia’s approaches toward the Artsakh conflict settlement, as well as in solving issues with neighboring countries. The NA speaker pointed out that Armenia has many times stated that the issue must be solved through peaceful negotiations which though is greatly impeded by the military rhetoric of Azerbaijan. He expressed concern that the international community is not giving corresponding assessment to the actions of Azerbaijan.
Referring to the process of normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations Armand de Decker highly praised Armenia’s courageous and initiative policy to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions, noting that the forwarding of preconditions by Turkey raised disappointment in the EU.
The president of the Senate pointed out that parliament of Belgium is always by the Armenia’s side which may be testified by the adoption of the resolution on the Armenian Genocide by the Belgian parliament in1998.
During the meeting the parties discussed a number of issues of mutual interest.
On the same day Hovik Abrahamyan met with the members of the European Parliament, rapporteurs on the Armenian affairs Thomas Poreba and Charles Tanok.
Hovik Abrahamyan presented in details the NK negotiation process and developments over the Armenian-Turkish relations.