YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 27, ARMENPRESS. On September 26, Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received the Members of Federal and State Parliaments of Australia John Alexander, Hugh McDermott and Trent Zimmerman, the Parliament told Armenpress.

The visit of the delegation was organized by the Armenian National Committee of Australia. This is the first visit of the Members of the Federal Parliament of Australia to Armenia. The Executive Director of the Armenian National Committee (Hay Dat) of Australia Hayk Kayserian, the Representative of Artsakh Republic to Australia Kaylar Mikayelian accompanied the Australian MPs.

Chair of the Armenia-Australia Friendship Group Arman Boshyan, MPs Hovhannes Igityan, Lusine Badalyan and Arsen Mikhailov took part in the meeting.

Welcoming the guests Ararat Mirzoyan has noted that he great expectation that the cooperation between the parliaments of Armenia and Australia will be possible to abruptly increase. The Speaker of Parliament has underlined they attentively follow in Armenia the activities held in the Parliament of Australia aimed at the official recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the fair solution of Artsakh issue. “We highly assess very much your efforts and express our gratitude,” Ararat Mirzoyan said.

The Speaker of the Parliament has stated that the new authorities of Armenia are faithful for the process of peaceful negotiations and expect a position backing the OSCE Minsk Group Chairmanship from all international colleagues.

Ararat Mirzoyan has informed with joy to the guests that the authorities of Armenia get prepared to open an Embassy in Australia. “I think that when this program implements it will be a big, important condition for further development of the relations,” he said.

The guests shared with their impressions from their visit to Artsakh, presented details about the works being done for the Armenian Genocide recognition and expressed readiness to support Artsakh.

Arman Boshyan thanked the guests for their visit to Armenia and to Artsakh, being part of it, as well as the Armenian delegation for organizing the visit and accompanying the guests. Arman Boshyan congratulated John Alexander for receiving state award Vachagan Pious (Barepasht) and Hugh McDermott Gratitude state award by the President of Artsakh Bako Sahakyan. Arman Boshyan has noted that they get prepared to move to a new plane the inter-parliamentary cooperation, and he is sure that it will be active and serve to the interests of the two countries.