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Dear Co-Chairs,

Dear colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I welcome you in Yerevan on the occasion of holding the 17th Meeting of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee.

I am glad that today you will have possibility to discuss the new opportunities and perspectives of cooperation between the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the European Parliament.

The Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement signed in Brussels several days ago is an ambitious document of partnership between Armenia and the EU, which opens a new page in the history of the bilateral relations.

Dear colleagues,

Since the independence Armenia has always announced that the close cooperation with the European Union is one of the prior directions of the country. The European Union is, first of all, a community values which we defend and share. The building and strengthening of the statehood of Armenia with European model is our realized choice, and that process is irreversible. The proof is the close cooperation with the European structures through many years which is directed to the institutional development of Armenia, the strengthening of the state structures, the improvement of the public administration, the fight against corruption, the provision of the judicial system independence, the guarantee of the freedom of speech, etc. This is a huge work which has been done and we are thankful for that. I can note with satisfaction that during the last two years our country succeeded to almost completely fulfill the obligations assumed in 2015.

The Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement is document indicating the significant developments of our cooperation and the upcoming necessary steps anchored on the human rights and fundamental freedoms, democracy and rule of law. This Agreement will give us an opportunity to bring new impetus to the joint efforts aimed at the upgrading of our state and society. It will expand the agenda of the large scale reforms. I am convinced that the insistent steps being taken by Armenia and our colleagues of the European Union will result in the rapprochement of our societies. We shall combine our efforts for effectively working in this new phase of the EU-Armenia cooperation. In this respect I greatly highlight the deepening of the cooperation of the European Parliament and the National Assembly. As a President of the RA National Assembly I will do my best for guaranteeing the active participation of the Armenian Parliament to the constructive bilateral and multilateral initiatives.

Dear colleagues,

Being at the crossroads of civilisations Armenia has bridges of cooperation with the neighbouring countries, as well as with the international structures in different formats for the benefit of the development of our country and the strengthening of peace in our region. Our colleagues indicate Armenia as a country making closer different integration structures which is guided by the spirit of reconciliation of interests, comparison and cooperation. By my deep conviction the signing of the Agreement being a new legal basis of our cooperation is the success for everybody.

Dear colleagues,

I would like also to touch upon the problem of Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement.

Our aspiration of reaching peace and stability in the region is united with the European colleagues. It is important that the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement once again reaffirms the commitment of the European Union to support the efforts of solving the NK conflict by the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Though Azerbaijan always tries to distort the essence of Nagorno Karabakh conflict and its peaceful settlement, it is all the same: its settlement is based on three international principles – non-use of force or force threat, territorial integrity and the right to the peoples’ self-determination which are laid on the basis of the statements of the only structure, the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, having international mandate being engaged with the settlement of the conflict.

The position of the international community connected with the NK problem is also expressed in the statements adopted by the heads of the OSCE Minsk Group Tri-Chair countries. In this respect, the solution of the conflict with the execution of the right to the NK people’s free self-determination is impossible. Armenia has always been and remains faithful to its vision of strengthening of peace and sustainable development.

Highlighting the role of the parliamentary diplomacy in the system of the modern international relations, we are ready to continue the dialogue with our European colleagues in parliamentary different formats.

I once again welcome you and wish you effective work.