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The development of multilateral relations with the Arab world is one of the primary directions of Armenia’s foreign policy. Armenia attaches great importance to the development of relations with the Gulf states. The Deputy Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security Armen Khachatryan said, welcoming the delegation led by the Chair of the Defense Affairs, Interior and Foreign Affairs Committee of the Federal National Council of the United Arab Emirates, the Vice-President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), Dr. Ali Rashid AlNuaimi in the Parliament.

The meeting took place on January 16, where the members of the RA NA Standing Committee on Defense and Security Vilen Gabrielyan, Gurgen Melkonyan, Kristine Poghosyan, Hayk Sargsyan attended.

Armen Khachatryan emphasized such mutual visits and meetings in order to deepen political dialogue and ensure stable progress of cooperation. The role of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing the bilateral agenda was underlined. “I am sure that from now on, a new page will be opened in the development of relations between the Parliaments of our countries, based on partnership and huge prospects,” the Deputy Chair of the Committee said.

Expressing gratitude for the warm reception, Dr. Ali Rashid AlNuaimi  noted that this is the first official meeting with the parliamentarians of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Armenia and they expect that this meeting will open new horizons for the development of cooperation and relations. He presented the security risks and challenges of their region, the mechanisms of the fight against terrorism and manifestations of extremism. According to him, the security strategy of the UAE was elaborated based on the principle of prevention.

According to Armen Khachatryan, the UAE is one of Armenia’s important partners in the region, and Armenia highly values the balanced foreign policy of the UAE at the regional and international levels. He expressed conviction that the warm friendly relations between the two countries will become the basis for the full realization of the existing potential.

Speaking about the regional security problems, Armen Khachatryan underscored that Azerbaijan continues its destructive actions, which threaten the stability and peace of the entire region. He mentioned that despite many challenges and the current situation, the Republic of Armenia has the political will to regulate relations with neighboring countries by adopting a peace agenda.

The deputy Hayk Sargsyan introduced the Crossroads of Peace project developed by the RA Government. According to Dr. Ali Rashid AlNuaimi, the project will promote the establishment and strengthening of peace, opening new horizons in the region from the north to the south.

Armen Khachatryan also presented the policy adopted by Armenia in the fight against corruption, the main directions and priorities of the Anti-Corruption Committee’s activity, assuring that an unyielding fight against corruption is being waged in our country as well.

Issues regarding military-political cooperation were addressed. An agreement was reached to deepen cooperative ties and carry out effective work in the direction of exchange of experience, mutual visits, implementation of joint projects in the field of security.