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On March 27 the RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan received the delegation of the NATO Partnership Sub-Committee of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Political Affairs.

Welcoming the guests the NA President has noted that Armenia’s relations with the NATO are the central components of the European integration policy, appreciating the cooperation with the NATO and participation in the Partnership for the Peaceful Program as an important component of Armenia’s multi-layered security system. In Hovik Abrahamyan’s word, Armenia is intended to maintain and develop the current rates of cooperation, paying special attention to the implementation of the Armenia-NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan, as well as its involvement in the international peacekeeping actions with the participation of the NATO. Talking about the parliamentary format of Armenia-NATO relationship, Hovik Abrahamyan highlighted the cooperation with the Assembly and the participation of the RA NA delegation in its works. In his word, Armenia’s participation in the programs of the NATO and the NATO Parliamentary Assembly promotes the democratic and institutional reforms of Armenia.

José Lello, Head of the NATO PA delegation, Chairman of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Political Affairs, deemed important the visit of the delegation to Armenia and Armenia-NATO cooperation, as well as the cooperation within the framework of the Individual Partnership Action Plan. He highly assessed the role and significance of the parliament in the relations with the North Atlantic Alliance, emphasizing the active participation of Armenia in the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the role of the parliamentary diplomacy.

During the meeting the sides touched upon the issues of regional security, the Armenian-Turkish relations, and the RA-EU cooperation. The NA President has stressed that Armenia adheres to the peaceful settlement of the NK conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. “The war never and nowhere has resulted to any good thing, causing human and material losses. Despite our position, Azerbaijan has constantly voiced at the highest level bellicose announcements, which have especially activated during the recent period,” Hovik Abrahamyan said. He has noted that Armenia highly assesses the position of the NATO in the process of the NK conflict settlement that it will go on only within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Touching upon the issues of Armenia’s accession to the Customs Union, the NA President has noted that it will not damage our political dialogue with the European Union, and Armenia will continue to be committed to universal values joining us and will carry on making efforts in the deepening of political dialogue for the provision of continuity of democratic reforms and the protection of human rights.

Referring to the crisis of Syria and the events occurred in Kessab, Hovik Abrahamyan expressed deep concern and condemned the events taking place in Armenian-populated Kessab.

“The invasion into Kessab has been launched from the territory of Turkey, which is a NATO member country. I think that the international community should raise its voice for the protection of the rights of national minorities and for the provision of physical security of the Armenians living in Kessab,” the NA President said.