On March 30 President of RA National Assembly Mr Hovik Abrahamyan received Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) Mr Gernot Erler and Chairman of Germany-South Caucasus Parliamentary Group of FRG Bundestag, representative of the Social- Democratic Party Mr Steffen Reiche. RA NA Vice President, head of Armenia-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group Mrs. Arevik Petrosyan, Deputy Foreign Minister Mrs. Karine Ghazinyan, Ambassador Plenipotentiary and Extraordinary of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Republic of Armenia Mrs Andrea Viktorin attended the meeting.
RA NA President highly assessed the present level of the Armenian-German relations, noting that the political dialogue with Germany is highlighted both in the context of bilateral development, as well as development of European cooperation, which is also conditioned by the growing interest of Germany and European Union towards the South Caucasus regional developments. Mr Abrahamyan emphasized the importance of the development of the inter-parliamentary relations, noting that probably in autumn the National Assembly of Armenia will host the head of the German Parliament, which will boost the deepening of cooperation between the two countries. The sides highlighted the activation of mutual visits, contacts, the exchange of information and the implementation of legislation expertise.
Touching upon the process of the settlement of Karabakh problem NA President Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan noted that Armenia highlighted the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in the process of the conflict settlement as a functioning format of negotiation process, and Armenia adhered tо the settlement of the problem only through peaceful way. To Mr. Abrahamyan’s conviction, the sides should be free of any steps, which could create additional tension on the way of peaceful process, to which Azerbaijan impeded with bellicose statements. The NA President stressed that the base of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement was the recognition of the self-determination of the Nagorno Karabkh people and the implementation of the right, the land connection between the Nagorno Karabakh Republic (NKR) and Armenia and guarantees of security of the NPR population. Mr. Abrahamyan expressed gratitude to the German side for its unbiased position. In the context of regional security and stability NA President Mr Hovik Abrahamyan highlighted the development of Armenia-Turkey relations, noting that Armenia was ready for the establishment and development of the inter-state relations without preconditions.
Reserving an important role in the development of the relations between the two countries to the inter-parliamentary cooperation Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) Mr. Gernot Erler separated the cooperation of the parliamentary friendship groups and thanked the NA President for the support to the International Parliamentary Fellowship Programme. Mr. Erler said that within the framework of Cultural Days of Germany in Armenia numerous events were envisaged to be held, which would more deepen the Armenian-German friendly relations in different directions. The State Minister positively assessed Armenia’s steps directed to making closer the relations with the neighbours, in particular, the progress in the Armenian-Turkish relations. Within the framework of the settlement of the NKR problem he considered necessary to resume the immediate contacts of the presidents of Armenia and Azerbaijan.
During the meeting the sides touched upon the inner-political situation of Armenia, highlighted the just and transparent conduct of the elections of Yerevan Council of Elders and discussed other issues of bilateral interest.