1 / 3

On the evening of September 28 the delegation led by RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan, which comprised of the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Health Care, Maternity and Childhood, the Chairman of Armenia-Switzerland Friendship Group Ara Babloyan, the Deputy Chairman of NA Standing Committee on Economic Affairs Vardan Bostanjyan, arrived in Bern. RA Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador to Switzerland Charles Aznavour joined the delegation in the capital of the Swiss Confederation.

The first meeting of the NA delegation was with the members of Switzerland-Armenia Friendship Group. The NA President Hovik Abrahamyan noted that it was symbolic that in the friendly country his first meeting took place just with Switzerland-Armenia Friendship Group, thanks to energetic and unbiased activity that the friendly relations developed and deepened between the countries. According to NA President, the two peoples are the bearers of the same spiritual and cultural values, the two countries have the same nature, have no access to sea, but they have convictions, skills and knowledge.

Hovik Abrahamyan expressed his gratitude on the adoption of the resolution by the National Council of Switzerland on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on December 16, 2003 and in that issue underlined the activity by Switzerland-Armenia Friendship Group, He noted that for the rapprochement of the Armenian-Swiss bilateral relations the development of the inter-parliamentary cooperation was important. In that context he expressed satisfaction for the efficient activity of the Armenian-Swiss Friendship Group in the Swiss Parliament, noting that the visit of the Friendship Group in 2008 was effective and was an impetus not only for deepening of the inter-parliamentary cooperation, but also for the strengthening and development of the economic ties.

The Co-Presidents of Switzerland-Armenia Friendship Group Ueli Leuenberger and Dominique de Buman highly assessed the visit of RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan with respect to strengthening and deepening the friendship and cooperation of the two countries. The Swiss MPs emphasized the deepening of the inter-parliamentary relations, the mutual visits and cooperation in the international structures. Touching upon the regional problems Mr. Leuenberger and Mr. de Buman highlighted the establishment of stability and peace in the South Caucasus and noted that the Karabakh conflict should be solved in peaceful way on the basis of the principle of self-determination.

On September 29 t he delegation led by RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan will have meetings with the newly elected Vice President of the Swiss Confederation, Head of the Department for Foreign Affairs Mrs. Michelin Calmy-Rey, the President of the Council of States Mrs. Erika Forster-Vannini, the President of the National Council Mrs. Pascale Bruderer Wyss.