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On September 6 the members of Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the House of Commons of Canada arrived in Armenia on three-day visit led by Harold Albrecht.

On September 7 the parliamentary delegation of Canada met in the National Assembly with the members of Armenia-Canada Friendship Group.

Before the meeting the parliamentary delegation of Canada laid flowers at the memorial perpetuating the memory of October 27, 1999 victims.

At the beginning of the meeting in the words of the head of the group of the Armenian side Hovhannes Sahakyan, the Armenian-Canadian relations has a long-years history and they are characterized as warm-friendly and partnership relations. In this context the MP did not consider accidental that Armenia had been the first to open an Embassy in Canada, and Canada was to recognize first the Armenian Genocide. He expressed hope that in the nearest future the Embassy of Canada in Armenia would function too. Mr. Sahakyan clarified for the guests Armenia’s stance both on the Armenian-Turkish relations and NK conflict. He said that they were waiting for Turkey’s step that it would find power and would move forward the process without preconditions. He reaffirmed the view of the Armenian side on the observation of the format of the NK conflict solution by the OSCE Minsk Group and noted that the deconstructive actions being implemented by Azerbaijan and Turkey can endanger the procedure of the negotiations. As such the head of group noted about the resolution to be discussed at the initiative of Azerbaijan in the UN during those days, expecting from the Canadian partners balanced attitude.

Emphasizing the meetings with such formats, the member of the Friendship Group Artsvik Minasyan considered useful the achievements of Canada in the spheres of the protection of human rights and democracy for the countries on the path of democratization. Expressing his gratitude for balanced approach of Canada on the NK problem the ARF deputy proposed the guests to visit Artsakh and be ensured that it was a democratic state. The member of the Prosperous Armenia faction Gohar Yenokyan thanked the Canadian partners in the name of the faction for all favorable steps taken for Armenia, expressing confidence that a democratic country like Canada could not be unfair in any issue. She spoke about the necessity of developing the economic relations between the two countries and more activating the contacts. The secretary of the Heritage faction Larisa Alaverdyan touched upon the manifestations of parliamentarism, saying that the inter-parliamentary relations were still weakly developed. According to the MP, the migration, social and policy towards the national minorities adopted by Canada, as well as the development programs of the communities and the low level of the corruption have created an interesting field of the exchange of experience.

Harold Albrecht is the propagator of the warm relations between the two countries too, and assuming the post of the head of the friendship, expressed hope to promote the activation of the bilateral contacts. He invited the Armenian partners to Canada with mutual visit. The Head of the Group ensured to discuss with the local businessmen the opportunities of the investments in Armenia after coming back, apart from that submit to the foreign ministry all the issues raised by the Armenian parliamentarians. The Canadian parliamentarians noted that the Armenians in Canada were respected thanks to their being educated, diligent work, resoluteness, and the Armenian ancient culture was instructive for Canadians.

On the same day the members of Canada-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group of the House of Commons of Canada visited the Tsitsrenakaberd Memorial Complex of the Armenian Genocide.