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“Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, dear guests, in the name of the RA NA let me welcome you, the participants of the Rose-Roth participants, who arrived in our country to have interesting discussions of concern.

The Republic of Armenia, consistently carrying on the policy of the establishment of democratic institutions and civil society, the reforms and programs aimed at their compliance with the European standards, has permanently highlighted the full cooperation of the country with the European structures. We pursue the development of the active and effective relations with the North-Atlantic Alliance. The RA National Assembly is committed to the implementation of the process of the legislative reforms aimed the compliance with the legislation of our country with the European and international standards.

The parliament continues developing the effective and transparent legislative control of the defense, expanding the role of the Standing Committees on Defense, National Security and Internal Affairs, as well as on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs, on Economic Affairs in the control of the defense activity.

Armenia greatly highlights its participation in the peacekeeping missions led by NATO.

The sub-division composed of 35 people from peacekeeping brigade of the RA Armed Forces continues its participation in the operation of the peace establishment of Kosovo Forces under the USA command, which it has restarted to take part since July 6, 2012. Meanwhile, in 2004-2011 the abovementioned mission took part under the command of Greece.

From January 2015 the military group composed of 121 military of the Armenian Armed Forces continues its participation in Afghanistan in the mission “Resolute Support” under the German command, implementing the defense of the security of Kabul Kasaba and Mazar-e-Sharif Marmel military bases.

The cooperation of the RA National Assembly with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly began in May 2002, when the President of the then NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the RA National Assembly was proposed an observer to the Assembly. In November of the same year, in the annual session of the Assembly the RA NA was granted a status of the Associate member. From that time on our parliament has actively taken part in the works of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly. Our delegation actively takes part not only in the sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly, but also in the Rose-Roth Seminars and other events held by the organisation.

Rose-Roth seminars were held in Yerevan twice: in 2005 and in 2010. The main goal of the Rose-Roth initiative is the strengthening of parliamentary democracy in the Central and Eastern European countries. The theme of today’s Yerevan seminar is dedicated to the security and stability in the South Caucasus, Fostering Enduring Regional Peace, which have not lost its topicality and urgency.

Caucasus has always been a crossroad of civilizations, religions and geopolitical interests, which today once again has established its international importance as a corridor of communication, an important way of export and transit of energy resources. Armenia resolutely believes the values of freedom, peace and cooperation and is confident that the development of regional cooperation and dialogue, the proposal of mutually beneficial solutions based on common interests and concerns can greatly promote the overcoming of regional conflicts and dividing lines, which will demand from everybody use of united efforts and manifestation of political will.

Regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, our conviction is that the settlement of the problem should be based on the recognition and execution of the right to self-determination of the Nagorno Karabakh people, according to the principles and norms of the international law. We are propagators of the peaceful settlement of that conflict and are deeply convinced that it should be solved through negotiations, which go on by the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The normalization of Armenia-Turkey relations also will contribute to the expansion of the regional cooperation, which we observe without any preconditions, in the context of the establishment of mutually beneficial cooperation, which is reflected in the Armenian-Turkish protocols over the establishment of diplomatic relations and the development of bilateral relations, which because of preconditions proposed by the Turkish side have not been ratified.

Dear participants and guests, I am sure that in the coming years we will witness numerous interesting discussions on various issues included in the seminar agenda.

I would like once again to welcome all of you on Armenian land and wish you fruitful and interesting work,” the RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan noted.