On June 20, the members of the NA Standing Committee of Defence, National Security and Internal Affairs met the delegation of the Committee of Foreign Relations, Defence and Security Affairs of the Senate of the Czech Republic.

Aramayis Grigoryan, Committee Chairman expressed conviction that the visit is an important step in the development of the Armenian-Czech relations. He considered important the cooperation between the parliaments, relevant committees of tow countries. The cooperation was considered useful in the international organizations in particular, within the framework of CE and NATO, the experience of the Czech Republic in the integration to the European structures and experience exchange in the legislative field was highlighted. Mr. Grigoryan introduced the activity of the committee, the current level of Armenia-NATO relations. The cooperation in the spheres of defense reforms, fight against terrorism, improvement of the legal field was considered important with NATO. Mr. Grigoryan noted that Armenia joined the process of planning and reviewing Partnership for Peace, as well as the agreement on the status of the Armed Forces NATO-Partnership for Peace.

Rostislav Slavotinek, Vice President of the Committee on Foreign Relations, Defence and Security Affairs of the Senate of the Czech Republic, expressed conviction that the visit will boost the friendship and cooperation of two countries. The cooperation at the level of committees in the sphere of inter-parliamentary cooperation was highlighted. Mr. Slavotinek briefly presented the structure of the Czech parliament, the committee’s functions, spheres, and touched upon the peculiarities of the Czech army, reforms of the police system. It was noted that the Czech parliament is bi-cameral and consists of Deputies Chamber and Senate. The Senate is shaped by the principle of majority electoral system, 81 MPs. The Czech army is professional from January 1, 2005, and it has 30000 soldiers. Mr. Slavotinek noted that in the Czech Republic a military university of having high quality and proposed the Armenian side to send officers there for training.

During the meeting the sides touched upon the problems of regional cooperation, highlighted the activation of parliamentary cooperation. Other issues of bilateral interest were also discussed, the directions of further cooperation were pointed out.