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On September 27, the event with the heading United Kingdom and Armenia-Partners in Parliamentary Democracy was held in the RA National Assembly, during which the Minister for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom Alan Duncan delivered a speech.

The RA NA deputies, Ambassadors accredited in the RA, and the representatives of the international NGOs took part in the event.

The RA NA Deputy Speaker, the Head of the NA Armenia-Great Britain Friendship Group Arpine Hovhannisyan, welcoming Alan Duncan in parliament has noted that this year sees the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and the United Kingdom, and during that period significant achievements have been recorded in numerous spheres.

The RA NA Deputy Speaker noted with gratitude the involvement of the Government of the United Kingdom in the numerous Armenia-based programmes and highly appreciated the support of that country in the ongoing economic and democratic reforms in Armenia.

Alan Duncan has highlighted the holding of the meeting in the RA National Assembly, noting that this building symbolises Armenia’s transition from one-party state into multi-party state. He has expressed conviction that the parliaments of the United Kingdom and Armenia will find common ends of cooperation. The Minister emphasized Armenia’s decision of passing into parliamentary system of government, considering it a significant step in the democratic process.

Alan Duncan presented in detail the history of the parliamentary government of the United Kingdom and the experience of overcoming the obstacles on that path. The Minister has touched upon the structure and the members of the UK House of Commons; and one-third of them are women, the ethnic minorities and the handicapped are of considerable number. Mr Duncan has noted with joy that the UK Government finances the programmes being implemented in the RA National Assembly, which will improve the parliamentary checks and balances, promoting that control of the government activity, the activation of cooperation with the society.

In the Minister's word, the United Kingdom assists the Armenian Government to implement wide scale programmes: in the spheres relating to the judicial-legal reforms, protection of human rights, fighting corruption.

Regarding the NK conflict, Alan Duncan has noted that the United Kingdom supports the OSCE Minsk Group efforts – to peacefully solve the long-lasting conflict. According to the Minister, courage will be required for establishing long-lasting peace.

At the end of the event the speaker answered the attendees' question, which related to the mechanisms and tools of parliamentary oversight, the NK conflict and the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide, as well as the international corruption scandal over Azerbaijan.