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On March 18 RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan received the delegation led by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, the Foreign Minister of Lithuania Audronius Azhubalis.

The NA Speaker emphasized the visit of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to South Caucasus, noting that it was a good opportunity to get acquainted with the problems on the spot, as well as to discuss the issues of general interest. Hovik Abrahamyan expressed conviction that during his presidency the OSCE would resume its efforts in strengthening peace and international security, developing democracy and law ruling. He noted that Armenia highly assessed the close cooperation with OSCE structures within the framework of the international organizations and highlighted the role of the OSCE PA in the process of the development of inter-parliamentary dialogue. The NA Speaker expressed conviction that the parliamentary diplomacy had assumed an important role in the current structure of the international relations. In the word of the head of the parliament Armenia greatly highlights the cooperation with OSCE, as well the support of the organization in the process of the ongoing democratic reforms in our country. Hovik Abrahamyan highly assessed the implementation of the unbiased Observation Mission by the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and OSCE/ODIHR during the presidential and parliamentary elections in the OSCE member countries. The NA Speaker noted that RA National Assembly highlighted the effective cooperation with OSCE Yerevan Office and documented with satisfaction that it had been put on good grounds, which had given its positive results during the years.

He highly assessed the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between the RA National Assembly Staff and OSCE Yerevan Office, which had been successfully carried out in different spheres.

Expressing his gratitude for reception Audronius Azhubalis noted that he always used the occasion to meet the former partners, as the parliament is the basis, which gives opportunity to develop the cooperation between the democratic states. He documented with satisfaction that Armenia implemented many reforms in the judicial system, in the social-economic and other spheres. He considered necessary the continuity of cooperation with OSCE democratic institutes and emphasized the adoption of the reformed Electoral Code facing the 2012 parliamentary elections.

During the meeting Hovik Abrahamyan touched upon the amendments being proposed in RA Electoral Code, to the laws on Conducting Assemblies, Meetings, Rallies and Demonstrations, on Television and Radio.

Touching upon the NK problem the NA Speaker noted that Armenia highlighted the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in the process of the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict as a practical and only format of the negotiation process. To his conviction, the re-launching of the PACE Ad-hoc Committee on NK will impede the process of the peaceful settlement. “Armenia adheres the settlement of the problem only in peaceful means and emphasizes the establishment of the atmosphere of confidence for continuing the negotiations in constructive way. The parties will be free of any steps, which can create additional tension and obstacles on the way of peaceful process,” Hovik Abrahamyan noted. In his word, the basis of the NK conflict settlement the recognition of the self-determination of the Nagorno Karabakh people and the execution of that right. To the NA Speaker’s conviction, any attempt of the settlement of the conflict in military way can have unpredictable consequences not only for the conflicting parties, but also for the whole region. He expressed hope that Lithuania as OSCE country under chairmanship would take steps in the international structures, as well as in bilateral relations neutralizing the Azerbaijani bellicose announcements and deconstructive campaign.

The OSCE Chairperson-in-Office noted that the day before he had met the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and he saw positive move in the settlement process of the NK problem. To his conviction the OSCE Minsk Group format should be the only one in the process of peaceful settlement. He expressed concern in relation to the incidents taking place in the line of contact and expressed his condolence in connection with yesterday’s tragic event. “We shall support in implementing an atmosphere of confidence building between the commanders in the line of contact, in withdrawing the snipers, which will greatly promote the weakening of the tension,” the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office noted.

At the meeting the parties discussed other issues of bilateral interest.