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On March 29, the press conference of the RA NA Delegation to Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (PA), during which the Head of the Delegation Artak Zakaryan, members of the Delegation Karine Atshemyan, Hrant Bagratyan, Tevan Poghosyan, Mikayel Melkumyan, Vahe Enfiajyan, Mher Shahgeldyan presented details on the works of the Euronest PA Fifth Plenary Session, also summed the works done by the Delegation within the framework of the Assembly during 2015.

Artak Zakaryan has informed that at the Meeting of the Political Affairs, Human Rights and Democracy a draft report on the theme Common positions and concerns of the EU Member States and Eastern European partner countries over foreign policies and external threats to their security was discussed, which related to the common threats of the Eastern Partnership member states and the European Union and facing them as a result of joint policy. According to the Head of the Armenian Delegation, during the circulation the draft collected 111 recommendations, it contained the provisions with controversial and anti-Armenian wordings contradicting the interests of Armenia, they related to the Nagorno Karabakh problem, particularly, the occupied territories in the conflicts existing in the Eastern Partnership member states, the principle of territorial integrity, the military aggression and the withdrawal of the troops. Artak Zakaryan has informed that due to united work of the Armenian Delegation during the negotiations an agreement was reached and according to the Statute of the Assembly, the authors have taken back their recommendations. Artak Zakaryan has noted that all the reports passed in the sessions stem from the common interests and positions of the parliamentary political forces of Armenia, express the RA external and internal political approaches.

The Armenian Delegation had reservations on some recommendations, which were against the RF interests, and taking into consideration the issues of our country’s security, the Armenian Delegation voted against those recommendations.

The members of the Delegation presented the works of the Committees and the debates held in them.

The Deputy Chair of the Committee on Social Affairs, Education, Culture and Civil Society Karine Atshemyan has noted that the draft report on the theme Mutual recognition of professional qualifications, work experience and the university diplomas within the Bologna process was discussed in the Committee. It related to the Bologna process, particularly the cooperation in the format of the Eastern Partnership countries, the students’ mobility and the recognition of the diplomas. Two recommendations of the Ukrainian Delegation were withdrawn from the draft by the Armenian Delegation’s exhortation. Mrs Atshemyan has informed that it was passed by the version admissible for Armenia. The member of the same Committee Vahe Enfiajyan has stated that the Armenian Delegation to Euronest PA, as usual, this time also worked organized and fulfilled the goals and problems put before it.

Hrant Bagratyan and Mikayel Melkumyan noted that at the Meeting of the Committee on Economic Integration, Legal Approximation and Convergence with EU Policies the draft report on the theme EU multiannual financial perspectives and their impact on economic cooperation among Eastern Partnership countries was debated. Talking about the items concerning the development of the small and medium entrepreneurship, Hrant Bagratyan has informed that he has submitted a report with inclusive and comprehensive analysis. The MPs noted with satisfaction that the Delegation prevented the inclusion of the anti-Armenian wordings in the resolutions.

Mikayel Melkumyan touched upon the draft report on the theme Policy development on unconventional gas and potential impact on energy markets in the EU and the Eastern European partner countries, talked about the works to be done by the Armenian Delegation in the Committee.

In his speech Mher Shahgeldyan highlighted the formation of the common platform of exchange of viewpoints and opinions between the Parliamentary Assemblies to the RA National Assembly.

Tevan Poghosyan considered a big success the fact that the problems of the solution of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict will be not be discussed in the Euronest PA anymore: he has underlined that there is separate format for it – the OSCE Minsk Group. According to the deputy, in the organization an agreement was reached that no wording damaging the process would become a matter of discussion.

The Head of the Delegation Artak Zakaryan has informed that the Euronest PA next Plenary Session will be held in Kiev, and the next Meeting of the Committee on Economic Integration, Legal Approximation and Convergence with EU Policies by the proposal of the Armenian Delegation will be held in Yerevan in autumn of the next year.

The members of the Delegation answered the journalists’ questions.