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On June 26, the RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov received Terens-Nikolaos Quick, Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece, who had arrived in Armenia on a working visit. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Hellenic Republic to Armenia Nafsika Nancy Eva Vraila attended the meeting.

Welcoming the guest, Eduard Sharmazanov has noted that the Armenian-Greek political relations are at high level, but there is still non used great potential in different spheres. The NA Deputy Speaker highlighted the development of the Armenian-Greek relations and in this context significantly assessed the Ambassador’s work.

The NA Deputy Speaker highly appreciated Terens-Nikolaos Quick’s personal contribution and efforts in strengthening the Armenian-Greek ties.

At the meeting both sides touched upon the regional problems, the issue of recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the issues of the settlement of Cyprus problems. The NA Deputy Speaker has noted that Armenia and Artsakh expect the settlement of Artsakh problem exclusively through peaceful means: within the OSCE Minsk Group. “The only obstacle of the problem settlement is Azerbaijan with its bellicose policy,” Eduard Sharmazanov noted and added that Turkey, adhering to its denial policy, continues to keep in blockade the borders with Armenia and support Azerbaijan’s criminal policy with announcements, to which the civilized world also witnessed during in the days of April war.

“The Artsakh people’s security, independence and safety is beyond everything for us. The struggle of Artsakh is a struggle for freedom and security, and Artsakh can never be part of Azerbaijan. Artsakh is a historical Armenian land, and exclusively the population living in Artsakh shall have the right to make a decision for its future,” Eduard Sharmazanov underlined.

The Deputy Foreign Minister of Greece Terens-Nikolaos Quick has thanked Eduard Sharmazanov for the warm reception and noted that Greece also is concerned to continue the policy of deepening the relations with Armenia at different levels.

He expressed his gratitude to the Parliament of Armenia for the adoption of the Resolution recognizing and condemning the Pontian Greeks’ genocide occurred at the beginning of the 20^th century. Talking about the Artsakh problem, Mr Quick has underlined that in this issue the position is Greece is distinct and has not been changed: Greece expects the settlement of the problem through peaceful means: within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group consonant with the international principles.

In the course of the meeting both parties referred to the reading of Quran in the Saint Sophia Cathedral, the attempt of turning it into a mosque through prayer, which the interlocutors considered inadmissible and a step against the Christian values. Mr Sharmazanov has noted that in this issue Armenia supports the position of Greece, underlining: “All the attempts, which are directed at casting shadow on the Greek Orthodox heritage and turning the Cathedral into a mosque, are inadmissible.”

Issues concerning the issues of the Armenian and Greek Diaspora in the two countries and the use of their potential were discussed.

Mr Quick conveyed the invitation addressed to the NA Speaker Ara Babloyan to visit Greece to the RA NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov.