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On April 10 the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations of the National Assembly Artak Zakaryan received the Ambassador for Special Assignments for the Countries of the South Caucasus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of the Kingdom of Spain Maria Pliego and the Honourable Consul of Spain to the RA Armine Adamyan.

Welcoming the guests in the parliament Artak Zakaryan deemed important the development and deepening of relations between Spain and Armenia. The Chairman of the NA Committee has noted that though the Armenian parliamentarians actively cooperate with the Spanish deputies of the Council of Europe, however the ties with the Spanish Parliament are weak. Artak Zakaryan also deemed necessary to develop and strengthen the inter-parliamentary relations as a result of active cooperation with Armenia-Spain Friendship Group.

The Chairman of the Standing Committee on Foreign Relations presented the RA priorities, touched upon the regional problems, the RA inner-political situation and the process of the reinforcement of democracy. According to him, it is important that the MPs of Spain be deprived of Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian campaigning influence. It has been noted that during these days the Armenian deputies are in Spain: they will take part in the discussions to be organized in the parliament, for which Artak Zakaryan expressed his gratitude to the Spanish side for the support.

Thanking for warm reception the Ambassador for Special Assignments for the Countries of the South Caucasus said that she had arrived in Armenia to take part in the solemn ceremony of assuming of the Office of the RA newly elected President. Maria Pliego has noted that Spain is interested in the countries of the South Caucasus, particularly, in Armenia and wishes to deepen its relations with other countries.

In the reinforcement of bilateral relations the sides highlighted the mutual visits and contacts.

In the course of the meeting the sides also touched upon Armenia’s foreign policy and the Nagorno Karabakh problem. Welcoming the stance of the Armenian side to settle the conflict through peaceful way and the OSCE Minsk Group format, the representative of Spain has noticed that it will have positive influence on the region.

At the guest’s request the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee presented the functions of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, touched upon the Armenian deputies’ work in international parliamentary organizations.

During the meeting the sides also touched upon the economic crisis of Spain and other issues of bilateral interest. Artak Zakaryan thanked Maria Pliego for visiting Armenia and for taking part in the special sitting of the National Assembly convened on the occasion of assuming of the Office of the RA President Serzh Sargsyan.