On March 12 RA NA President Mr Hovik Abrahamyan received the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the Republic of Armenia Mr Onno Elderenbosch.
Welcoming the Ambassador NA President Mr Hovik Abrahamyan highly assessed the inter-state relations with the Kingdom of the Netherlands, noting that the relations between the parliaments have all possibilities to become close cooperation. The activation of the mutual visits, the use of the Dutch legislative experience, the support of the Netherlands in Armenia’s Euro integration processes, in particular within the format of Eastern Partnership programme was highlighted. To Mr Abrahamyan’s conviction, the creation of the parliamentary friendship groups will promote becoming closer the Armenian-Dutch inter-parliamentary partnership, which will also boost the cooperation in international different organizations. He said that in the National Assembly Armenian-Dutch parliamentary friendship group would be set up in the near future.
Ambassador Mr Onno Elderenbosch highlighted the further development of the Armenian-Dutch relations, considering necessary the cooperation of the parliaments in inter-state relations. He noted that the Netherlands discussed to implement partnership programme worth 1.5 m euro with the National Assembly of Armenia, which would boost the inter-parliamentary cooperation, the mutual visits, exchange of experience and contacts at different levels. Touching upon the regional problems the Ambassador noted that as a result of the Russian-Georgian conflict the economy of Armenia incurred great losses and expressed regret that the European Union attached little interest to that circumstance and did not support Armenia. He highly assessed the efforts of Armenia in improving the relations with the neighbours, in particular, with Turkey, in this context highlighting the necessity of the regional security and stability.
Presenting the inner-political problems of Armenia and the situation created as a result of March 1 events, the NA President noted that the authorities of the country did everything possible in fulfilling the provisions of PACE resolutions. In particular, the working group created by the decree of the NA President had already drafted the amendments to the 225 and 300 articles of the Criminal Code, which after being adopted in the first reading were passed to the expertise of the Venice Commission, getting positive conclusion and will be debated in the second reading at the upcoming four-day sittings. The NA President highlighted the creation of the atmosphere of tolerance in the country, expressing hope that in the upcoming months the progress will be noticeable in that direction.
At the meeting other issues were also discussed.