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On August 26, the President of the RA National Assembly received the delegation headed by the Speaker of the Riksdag of the Swedish Kingdom Andreas Norlén being in Armenia on an official visit at his invitation. The NA Vice President Lena Nazaryan, the Chairs of the NA Standing Committees and the representatives of the NA Factions took part in the meeting in extended format.

The NA President Ararat Mirzoyan made welcoming remarks.

“Distinguished Mr Speaker,

Dear Colleagues,

Ambassadors,

I am glad to welcome you in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.

My impressions are rather fresh from the meetings of our delegation in Stockholm in June, which opened a new page in the relations of our two parliaments.

Your official visit to our country with such representational delegation is of special significance for us. I know that the Speaker of the Swedish Parliament with such members travels once in four years, and we are grateful that you have chosen Armenia this time. I think that this is one of the best assessments to the democratic changes made last year by the Armenian people, which become irreversible due to our and your politicians. Similar visits also promote the expansion of our political dialogue which actively develops.

After non-violent, democratic revolution and snap parliamentary elections held in Armenia the executive and legislative authorities of Armenia undertake inflexible steps aimed at deepening of democracy, rule of law and the implementation of the uncompromising fight process against corruption.

I would like to underline that after the revolution and the declaration of democratic changes Sweden showed sincere interest towards our country and expressed readiness to support those processes. In this context we are glad to register this approach and we very highly assess it.

As a practical evidence of that readiness, on the last day of my visit to Sweden, the Government of Sweden made an amendment in its relevant document (Swedish Reform Cooperation in Eastern Europe, Western Balkans and Turkey 2014-2020), opening an opportunity for expanding the financial support.

Dear Colleagues,

Sweden is genuinely considered a country of mature democracy and protection of human rights. The policy adopted by the Swedish Government and being pursued for centuries is exemplary and inspiring for us in raising the women’s role in the society. I believe that my female colleagues of the National Assembly of the seventh convocation, the NA Deputy Speaker Lena Nazaryan, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs Naira Zohrabyan, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Financial-Credit and Budgetary Affairs Mane Tandilyan, the Majority Leader Lilit Makunts and the Head of the Armenian-Swedish Friendship Group Hripsime Grigoryan and others are considered to be a wonderful example for the women, and they will confidently advance the agenda directed to the women’s strengthening. Besides, Armenia has adopted a conceptual approach in the reforms of the sphere of protection of human rights and providing the use of the international norms, and we highly assess the readiness of Sweden to support the democratic processes in Armenia.

The comprehensive inter-parliamentary contacts are of great importance for the RA National Assembly: in this context I would like to welcome the activity of the Friendship Groups functioning in our parliaments and express hope that the visit of such representational delegation to Armenia also means that close cooperation would be established between the factions.

The effective cooperation on the international parliamentary platforms is also important for us. I would like to underscore the positive adoption of the positions promoting the peace by the Swedish parliamentarians over the sensible issues for Armenia.

We highly evaluate the balanced position adopted by Sweden in Nagorno Karabakh issue and consonant with the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs. Once again I express my gratitude to the Parliament of Sweden for the condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

I thank the Swedish Parliament for ratifying Armenia-EU Agreement on 2 May 2019. Now, the effective use of the Agreement is important for us.

Concluding my word, I reaffirm the readiness of the Armenian side to continue and deepen our constructive dialogue,” Ararat Mirzoyan said.

At the end of the meeting Andreas Norlén left a note in the Book of Honourable Guests of the RA National Assembly.

Afterwards the high ranking guest planted an evergreen fir-tree in the Parliament Park.

The Heads of the two countries’ parliaments made a joint announcement for the mass media representatives.