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On June 20, the Vice President of the RA National Assembly Hakob Arshakyan received the Dutch member of the European Parliament Bert-Jan Ruissen . 

The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on European Integration Arman Yeghoyan and a member of the Committee Tatevik Gasparyan attended the meeting.

“Your visit to Armenia is welcoming, especially considering the period full of challenges for our country,” Hakob Arshakyan underlined, presenting the current situation in the Lachin Corridor. “The Corridor continues to be blocked and the decision of the UN International Court of Justice and the appeals of the Council of Europe are not implemented by Azerbaijan,” the NA Vice President mentioned. 

Hakob Arshakyan also raised the issue of Armenian prisoners of war and other persons held in Azerbaijan. According to the NA Vice President, Azerbaijan does not stop encroachment on the sovereign territory of Armenia, aggressive rhetoric.

“I would like to thank you for your role in the adoption of resolutions, reports, statements on a number of issues of vital importance for Armenia,” Hakob Arshakyan noted.

Touching upon the RA-EU relations, the NA Vice President stated. “The relations between the Republic of Armenia and the European Union are multi-layered, the range of cooperation is impressive. It includes active political dialogue, implementation of initiatives arising from economic and investment programmes. The EU continues to be the primary partner supporting the reform agenda implemented by the Armenian Government.”

“Despite the challenges facing all of us in recent years, we have managed to ensure the positive dynamics of the RA-EU high-level political dialogue, expand the legal contractual field by signing a number of agreements on aviation, migration and other fields,” Hakob Arshakyan underscored and added that they should be implemented.

The NA Vice President highlighted the decision to deploy the EU observation mission in Armenia and emphasized that it can make a great contribution to the establishment of peace and stability in the region.

According to Hakob Arshakyan, the liberalization of visas between Armenia and the EU can be a stimulating step in terms of deepening cooperation with the EU and increasing the resilience of Armenia’s economy.

The Dutch member of the European Parliament Bert-Jan Ruissen , who is in Armenia for the first time, thanked the Armenian side for the invitation to our country. The guest also attached importance to the expansion of the RA-EU cooperation. Referring to the current situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, Bert-Jan Ruissen condemned Azerbaijan’s disregard of the decision of the International Court of Justice.

Arman Yeghoyan emphasized the necessity for the EU to impose targeted sanctions on Azerbaijan.

Bert-Jan Ruissen expressed willingness to provide support in various international formats regarding the strengthening of Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.