On April 6 Mher Shahgeldyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and Internal Affairs met in the parliament with the members of the delegation headed by Gediminas Kirkilas, Minister of National Defence of the Republic of Lithuania, who were on an official visit in Armenia.

Welcoming the guests, the Committee Chairman of the Parliament said that the relations between Armenia and Lithuania were shaped still in historical times. He evaluated the guest’s visit as a good opportunity for exchanging views and finding cooperation boundaries.

The Lithuanian Minister of National Security underscored with satisfaction the striving of the Armenian side to cooperate with the European Union and NATO. He also welcomed the policy of Armenia in sending Armenian peaceful corps to Iraq, noting that Lithuania is represented with its peaceful detachments almost in all areas. The Lithuanian side is ready to share its achievements and experience in the military sphere with the Armenian partners, said Gediminas Kirkilas, especially pointing out the fact the its country is in the stage of improving the system of the armed forces.

Mher Shahgeldyan highlighted the proposal of the exchange of experience in the sphere of defence, taking into account that Lithuania created armed forces complying with the Western and NATO standards. Mr. Shahgeldyan, who is also the head of the Armenian delegation in NATO Parliamentary Assembly, finds that the parliaments of two countries should have great role in the development of bilateral relations, in this case – the committees dealing with defence issues. The Committee Chairman noted that Armenia moves by the way of European integration and it’s not just the result of mere desire, but conditioned by historical and religious realities. During the talks the issue of financing the system of defence and its planning was also touched upon, as well as the issues of civil and parliamentary control towards this sphere. Talking on the theme of Karabakh conflict, Mher Shahgeldyan underscored that in contrast to warlike statements of the Azeri side, Armenia sees the solution of the problem to coming to a common understanding as a result of negotiation process. The Lithuanian Minister of National Security said on this occasion that there are no unsolved problems in politics: will and desire are needed for the solution.

During the meeting the sides had a talk on cooperation within the framework of the programme “Wider Europe: New Neighbourhood.” Lithuania pays special attention to South Caucasus countries. In connection with this an Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania soon will be opened for the regional three countries, where a military attaché will also work.

Though our delegations cooperate within the NATO PA framework, the meetings will be held more often and the relations become friendlier, said Mher Shahgeldyan, and added, that “the human relations have great place in the politics.”