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On November 19 the RA NA President Galust Sahakyan met with the delegation led by Yiannakis Omirou, the President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus.

Welcoming the guests the RA NA President has noted that the friendly attitude shown through many centuries towards Armenia is greatly conditioned by the commonalities of the ancient history and the destiny of the two peoples. In the NA President’s word, the rich historical heritage, the spiritual values, the mutual understanding and the trust established between the two peoples serve as a pledge for further development and deepening of the inter-state relations.

Galust Sahakyan has highlighted the cooperation between the two countries also in the format of relations with the European Union, noting that Armenia is resolute in continuously deepening the relations with the EU.

Touching upon the close cooperation and mutual support of the parliaments of the two countries in different international organizations the RA NA President has expressed his gratitude for the positions of the Cypriot deputies represented in the European parliament, particularly for Eleni Theocharous’ pro-Armenian activities. The RA NA President has noted that Armenia and Cyprus have always backed each other in the issues of challenges facing the two countries: the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the settlement of the Cyrus problem, emphasizing the solution of those problems exclusively through peaceful means, based on the principles and norms of the international law. Galust Sahakyan has referred to the destruction of the helicopter of the NKR Defense Army shot down by the Azerbaijani armed forces during the training flight on 12 November 2014, calling on the international community to condemn the efforts of Azerbaijan directed to the failure of the peaceful settlement process.

The Head of the Parliament has noted that Armenia strictly condemns the activity of Turkey in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the Republic of Cyprus, assessing it as a treacherous violation of norms of international law.

Talking about the events to be held in Yerevan within the framework of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, the RA NA President Galust Sahakyan has documented with satisfaction that the Parliament of Cyprus has been one of the first ones in the world to recognize the Armenian Genocide. He has invited Yiannakis Omirou and the high-ranking officials of Cyprus to Armenia to take part in the events to be held in April of 2015.

The RA NA President has also talked about the Armenian community of Cyprus, highly assessing the Cypriots’ warm attitude towards the Armenians who have hardly survived the Genocide and their generations.

Thanking for the warm reception, Yiannakis Omirou, the President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus, has touched upon the centuries old friendship of the two countries and the gradually growing relations. Yiannakis Omirou has presented the situation in Cyprus, qualifying Тurkey's invasion of the Exclusive Economic Zone as a violation of rules of international law. According to Omirou, Turkey destabilizes the situation in the whole region.

Regarding the Nagorno Karabakh conflict Yiannakis Omirou has mentioned that Cyprus supports Armenia and expresses hope that the problem will be solved within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. The President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus has noted that he is ready to permanently assist Armenia in the rapprochement of cooperation with the EU.

At the end of the meeting Yiannakis Omirou left a note in the Book of Honourable Guests of the National Assembly.