First official inter-parliamentary meeting between National Assembly of Armenia and Knesset of Israel is held
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YEREVAN, DECEMBER 16, ARMENPRESS. The delegation headed by Chair of Republic of Armenia National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Artak Zakaryanvisit Jerusalem and Tel-Aviv on December 13 and 14 at the official invitation of Knesset of the State of Israel. MPs Hrant Bagratyan, Karen Saribekyan, as well as Head of the Institute for National Strategic Studies of Armenian Defense Ministry, Major General Hayk Kotanjian were among the delegates.
As “Armenpress” was informed from Public Relations and Media Department of the National Assembly, the Armenian delegation met with Vice Speaker of the Knesset, Head of Armenia-Israel friendship group TaliPloskov, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense committee Tzachi Hanegbi, Political Directorof the Ministry ofForeign AffairsofIsrael Alon Ushpiz, Head of Middle East and Asia Division Ariel Shafransky, Head of theEurasia Division of Israel's ForeignMinistry Zvi Rav-Ner, as well as Chairman of Israel-Armenia Chamber of Commerce TsviKan-Tor. These are the first official meetings between the Armenian National Assembly and the Knesset of the State of Israel, within the sidelines of which inter-parliamentary relations and different issues concerning activation of cooperation were discussed.
Chair of Republic of Armenia National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Artak Zakaryanexpressed satisfaction towards the Knesset of Israel on behalf of the National Assembly of Armenia for the participation of the high ranking parliamentary delegation in the events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide in April of the current year. The necessity of activating the works of the friendship group was also highlighted. The sides also touched upon the necessity of active engagement of parliaments in the condemnation and prevention of genocides. The Armenian delegation stated that the Armenian parliamentarians expect that the Knesset will soon express its official position over the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, and as two nations surviving genocide, the Armenian and Jewish nations will continue their struggle for the prevention of crimes against humanity together with the international society. Vice Speaker of the Knesset, Head of Armenia-Israel friendship group TaliPloskov, expressing gratitude for accepting the invitation, highlighted the necessity of parliamentary cooperation and mentioned that the friendship group will speed up its activities in the Knesset fostering the development of Republic of Armenia-Israel relations.
At the request of the Armenian side, chairman of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense committee Tzachi Hanegbi introduced Israel’s experience in decision making over issues of security, defense, foreign relations, and other strategic issues as well as parliament-government cooperation.
The Armenian side slammed the anti-Armenian propaganda by Azerbaijan, distortion of the situation in the region, and dissemination of misinformation. Particularly, the fact that Azerbaijan constantly subverts the peaceful settlement process, displays a dangerous behavior, which, unfortunately, are sometimes taken as truth by deputies of different parliaments, was emphasized.
At the end of the meeting Artak Zakaryan invited the Israeli colleagues to Armenia, which was cordially accepted.
The Armenian parliamentary delegation discussed the developments in the Middle East, Armenia-Israel relations, Armenia’s top foreign priorities, NKR peaceful settlement, possible Armenia-Israel cooperation within the framework of the EAEU, as well as issues concerning tourism and air communication at the Foreign Ministry of Israel.
The delegation also met with Archbishop Sevan Gharibian at the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem during which issues referring to the Armenian community and religious-cultural life were discussed. On the same day the delegation met with the representatives of a number of Armenian organizations in Israel.