YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 15, ARMENPRESS: Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice President of the National Assembly, Head of Armenia-Estonia Parliamentary Friendship Group met with Priit Turk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to the Republic of Armenia (residence in Tbilisi) on February 15.

As Armenpress was informed from public relations and media department of NA, welcoming the Ambassador Eduard Sharmazanov has expressed satisfaction that Armenian-Estonian relations are going on positively, and in terms of activation of that cooperation he has highlighted the mutual visits of the MPs of the two countries. He has informed him that in the National Assembly Armenian-Estonian Friendship Group has already been formed. At the same time he has noted that he has invited his Estonian colleagues to visit Armenia and jointly discuss the perspectives of cooperation of the two parliaments. The NA Vice President has said that this year the NA President’s visit to Latvia and Estonia is scheduled, which will create good bases for the development of the Armenian-Estonian relations, particularly, the inter-parliamentary relations.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia to the RA noted that during the meetings with the President of Armenia and the Foreign Minister the development of cooperation in different spheres, particularly, the inter-parliamentary relations of the two countries were highlighted. He said that on May 1-5 the visit of the members of Estonia-Armenia Friendship Group to Yerevan was envisaged. In spring the delegation led by the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Estonian Parliament will also visit Armenia.

Touching upon the steps taken by Armenia directed to the EU integration the Ambassador has recorded that during those negotiations Armenia together with Georgia and Moldova are the forerunners, which the Estonian authorities welcome and express readiness to more support the development of those processes. He has proposed to make use of the opportunity given by the Eastern Partnership Centre functioning in Estonia. The Centre will be useful for the Armenian colleagues in the fields of exchange of experience, the specialists’ training and education.

The NA Vice President has assured that the steps taken by Armenia towards systemized democratic reforms are not purposeless. “It absolutely stems from our people’s interests and the perspective of our country’s development,” said Eduard Sharmazanov.

In the course of the meeting issues concerning the Armenian-Turkish relations and peaceful settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh problem were also discussed. The NA Vice President positively appreciated the Estonian authorities’ balanced position on the NKR issue and supporting its resolution through peaceful negotiations within the Minsk Group framework, noted that people of Artsakh should make decision for the future of the NKR.

The Ambassador in his turn has reaffirmed that there is no alternative for the peaceful settlement of the NKR conflict.

Eduard Sharmazanov also has touched upon the upcoming presidential elections, assuring that the authorities of the country do their utmost for organizing free, fair elections in accordance with democratic standards, being well aware that it will be one of the most important conditions of the invariable democracy in the country.

The sides emphasized the development of cooperation with bilateral format and within the EU Eastern Partnership and the implementation of joint programs directed to it in political, economic and cultural spheres.