On November 21 the delegation led by the Speaker of the National Assembly Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan participated in the works of the plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (PABSEC). Head of RA NA delegation in PABSEC Mr. Gagik Minasyan, RA NA Chief of Staff Mr. Gegham Gharibjanyan, RA NA deputies Mr. Vardan Bostanjyan, Mr. Areg Ghukasyan, Mr. Vardan Khachatryan, other officials were in the delegation.

On the same day RA NA President delivered a speech in the plenary session of the PABSEC:

“Dear Mr. President,

Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen

First of all, I express my gratitude to the Russian friends for the warm reception and plenary session, which was excellently organized.

In the modern world the multilateral cooperation and inter-parliamentary diplomacy obtain great importance and actuality. Our duty is to support and develop those positive tendencies.

As one of the internationally recognized regional organizations, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation year by year expands the scope of the activity, becoming an important factor of the political and economic stability in the region.

Dear colleagues

Armenia pays great attention to the processes of regional cooperation and integration: that is why, the Republic of Armenia has been one of the founders of BSEC and its parliamentary structure. The role of the parliaments is to spread the ideas and goals of the organization within PABSEC. Our further legislative activity directed to the economic and trade cooperation in the Black Sea region, will promote not only the solution of our internal problems, but also the trust and understanding between our countries and peoples. With this conscience we are moving to strengthen the regional cooperation. We see the role and importance of PABSEC in that.

The Armenian Parliament conscientiously and purposefully walks in order to create a legislative field for supporting in the further liberalization process of economy and trade and in the direction of cooperating in social, political, cultural spheres, as well as in the protection of the environment.

It’s evident that the economic cooperation has been and will be in the center of our attention.

The development of transport corridors and the provision of the energy security of PABSEC countries are of great importance for the adequate economic development of the region.

Armenia considers actual the issue of transport roads and acts for the benefit of uniting the transport systems in the transport corridors and systems of the Black Sea Region European countries. The events of developing the international transport corridors of the Armenian territory can be put in groups with the following directions, including the more important sides of the transport activity connected with the provision of the international communication - passenger and cargo transportations:

- development of road transport

- development of cargo transportation

- development of passenger transportation

- increase of security of transportation activities

- improvement of awareness of the participants of transportation process

- implementation of scientific research works

- upgrading of legal-normative base

- involvement of international investments.

I find that the integration of transport system will be more effective if all 12 BSEC member states are involved. The implementation of the idea of creating the Black Sea transportation ring will promote the process, which will allow joining the transportation systems of the European Union, Eastern Europe, Middle Asia and the Near East.

We are convinced that the mutually beneficial economic cooperation between the countries of the region, the outreach and access of transport communications can form an atmosphere of trust, which is so necessary for solving the problems of the region.

The sustainable development of the energy sector on the basis of the regional cooperation is the main priority of Armenia’s energy sector. That policy is based on the implementation of the three principles of diversification, as the operation of energy sources, the types of energy supply and different ways of fuel transportation. Today Armenia’s energy system is one of the established systems on the CIS territory. It has developed substructures and inter-system relations with the neighbouring countries. Armenia, Iran and Georgia have positive experience of policy of integrating the energy systems. We are ready to take steps for being integrated in the formation of the Black Sea Power Energy Ring. Within the framework of the European Energy Charter Armenia is ready to negotiate with any country, which is interested in the implementation of the programmes in the sphere of energy sources transit. In the sphere of energy the effective cooperation will ensure to supply reliable and cheap energy to the Black Sea Region, which will promote moving the creation of the Black Sea Power Energy Ring to the final phase. I would like to stress that in order to reach the energy security the joint actions of all participants of energy market are required.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Summing up my speech I would like to note that our joint problem is the practical application of the adopted decisions. Let me ensure you that from now on our work will actively continue in the spirit of seeking ways of cooperation, and calling them into life.

I wish all the participants of the General Assembly fruitful, effective work.

Thanks for your attention.”

On the same day the NA Speaker Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan had a meeting with the Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Mr. Boris Gryzlov. The interlocutors highlighted the cooperation of the parliaments of two allied countries, which added to the political dialogue, being implemented at high level of the Speakers of the National Assembly and the Russian Federation. Mr. Abrahamyan underlined that Armenia had always felt the support of the Russian Federation, for which he expressed gratitude of the Armenian side. In that context he highlighted the privileged credit allocated to the Republic of Armenia by the Russian Federation, which assisted to confront the consequences of the world financial-economic crisis.

During the meeting the sides in detail discussed the issues of bilateral inter-parliamentary cooperation. They highly assessed the cooperation of the parliamentary delegations within the framework of international organizations. The interlocutors also exchanged opinions over the problems of regional cooperation, the process of normalizing the Armenian-Turkish relations and Artsakh issue.

At the meeting an agreement was also reached on paying a visit to Armenia of the Speaker of the State Duma of the Russian Federation during the coming months.

On November 23 the meeting of RA NA Speaker Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan with the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Mr. Mehmet Ali Şahin was held, who also participated at the PABSEC Moscow Meeting.

During the meeting the interlocutors presented to each other the characteristics of the structure and activities of the parliaments of their countries. They exchanged views over the process of establishing bilateral relations without preconditions. Mr. Abrahamyan underlined that the Armenian side considered necessary to ratify the Armenian-Turkish protocols within reasonable terms.

The heads of the two parliaments highly assessed the brave joint work of the Presidents of the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Turkey and agreed that due to that fruitful soil had been created to establish normal relations between two neighbouring nations. In that context they agreed that it was necessary, first of all, to encourage, the human direct contacts, as well as to try creating relations between the N ational Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the Grand National Assembly of Turkey.

The interlocutors with satisfaction summed the meeting, expressing hope that they would have occasions of new meetings.