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On June 7, the Vice President of the National Assembly Hakob Arshakyan received the Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) Michael Roth.

The Head of the NA Armenia-Germany Friendship Group Vladimir Vardanyan and the Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Sargis Khandanyan attended the meeting.

Welcoming the guest, the NA Vice President emphasized the development of the friendly relations between Armenia and Germany, underlined the expansion of cooperation between the National Assembly of Armenia and the Bundestag.

Touching upon the bilateral cooperation, the NA Vice President highlighted the fact that Germany in the series of the EU countries is the biggest trade-economic partner of Armenia. Hakob Arshakyan highly appreciated the assistance of Germany in the democratic agenda of Armenia.

“Armenia greatly highlights the implementation of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement and also the fact that Germany is among the 6 countries that combined their efforts with the European Investment Bank for the development of Syunik Region/Marz of Armenia,” the NA Vice President underscored, highly appreciated the Armenian-German decentralized cooperation.

Presenting the regional challenges, Hakob Arshakyan noted that on December 12, 2022 Azerbaijan closed the only road connecting Nagorno Karabakh with Armenia and outside world, the Lachin Corridor, because of which 120.000 Armenians appeared in the actual blockade. According to NA Vice president, these actions of Azerbaijan contradict the obligations assumed by the bilateral statement of November 9, 2020 and grossly violate the decision legally pending the International Court of Justice: “Mr Roth, first it was of artificial environmental action character, but from April 23 Azerbaijan had already installed a checkpoint and officially blocked the Lachin Corridor.”

Hakob Arshakyan also spoke about 38 Armenian prisoners of war being held in Azerbaijan: “We hope that the EU commitment to support the return of the captives will successfully end.” The NA Vice President underscored that the anti-Armenian policy of Azerbaijan does not change – a few days ago, while supplying food two Armenian servicemen, against whom false criminal cases were initiated in Azerbaijan, were kidnapped.

According to Hakob Arshakyan, Armenia comes up with an agenda of opening an era of peace in the region: “We make efforts on regional infrastructures and deblocking transport routes, demarcation and border security.” The NA Vice President once again stated that Armenia has no territorial claims against its neighbours.

“On behalf of Armenia I would like to welcome the efforts of Germany aimed at strengthening peace and stability in the region, formation of the atmosphere of mutual trust, as well as boosting regional cooperation,” Hakob Arshakyan underlined.

Highlighting the deployment of the EU long-term Monitoring Mission in our country, the NA Vice President thanked the Government of Germany regarding of support to that decision.

Regarding the pentilateral meeting with the participation of the RA Prime Minister, the Presidents of Azerbaijan, France and Chancellor of Germany, the President of the European Council within the framework of the European Political Community Summit in Chisinau on June 1, Hakob Arshakyan welcomed the efforts of Germany in ensuring the Armenian-Azerbaijani dialogue.

Thanking the NA Vice President for the reception, the Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee of the Bundestag conveyed the greeting of the President of the German Bundestag, mentioning that the latter emphasizes the development of bilateral relations not only governmental level, but also at inter-parliamentary one.

Michael Roth agreed with the Armenian parliamentarians’ viewpoint that stable peace should be established in the region. He stressed the support of the European Union and the Government of Germany in ensuring the urgent return of the captives to the homeland.

Roth noted that he publicly criticized the blockade of the Lachin Corridor and considers inadmissible that the decision of the UN International Court of Justice is not respected. “I think that it should be immediately implemented, and the Corridor be opened. The Armenian population in Nagorno Karabakh should continue working safely, their security and rights should be ensured, no danger of ethnic cleansing should be tolerated,” the German legislator expressed his opinion.