RA NATIONAL ASSEMBLY PRESIDENT HOVIK ABRAHAMYAN RECEIVES THE PRESIDENT OF THE OSCE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY PETROS EFTHYMIOU
National Assembly
parliament.am
May 10 2011
Armenia
On May 10 RA National Assembly President Hovik Abrahamyan received
the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Petros Efthymiou.
Welcoming the guest Hovik Abrahamyan expressed conviction that his
visit would promote to closely get acquainted with the problems of
the region. Expressing his gratitude for hospitality Petros Efthymiou
noted that it was very pleasant to be in the Armenian Parliament and
see how the discussions were going on in the atmosphere of mutual
consent. In his words, the Armenian delegation in the OSCE PA had a
rather lively activity, taking part in the discussions of the issues.
RA NA President highlighted the OSCE PA – RA NA partnership, as
well as the cooperation with the OSCE Yerevan Office, with which
the NA Staff had signed an agreement and actively cooperated. Hovik
Abrahamyan noted that in Armenia numerous reforms were implemented,
particularly, at the moment the draft law of the Electoral Code was
under discussion, and the authorities would like to have such an
Electoral Code, which would promote to hold fair transparent elections.
The President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly expressed satisfaction
in connection with the works being done on Electoral Code, considering
important having reliable, trustworthy system for holding elections.
The sides also touched upon political issues. NA President Hovik
Abrahamyan noted that the OSCE Minsk Group was the only acceptable
format for Armenia in the NK conflict settlement process. He drew
the attention of the President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly to
the regular shootings, snipers’ actions by Azerbaijan: the Armenian
side proposed to remove them from the contact line, but there was no
response from Azerbaijan.
Regarding the Armenian-Turkish relations Hovik Abrahamyan noted that
it was not understandable that Turkey sought to become a EU member,
but it kept close the boder with the neighbour. According to Petros
Efthymiou, the improvement of the Armenian-Turkish relations emanates
from the interest of the whole region.
Touching upon the NK issue, the President of the OSCE Parliamentary
Assembly noted: “The OSCE PA fully supports the Minsk Group format
and the OSCE is the most truthful organisation in the NK conflict
settlement process. We don’t want other organizations to be involved
in it.” In his words, we shall work in the direction of the peaceful
solution of the problem, which will be based on the international law.
NA President Hovik Abrahamyan touched upon the re-creation of the
Sub-Committee on NK issue in PACE, considering it inadmissible. He
noted that such steps hindered the solution of the problem. Petros
Efthymiou reaffirmed that they support the OSCE Minsk Group and it’s
not useful other organizations to be involved in that issue.
Emphasizing the parliamentary diplomacy RA NA President highly assessed
the role of OSCE PA in the development of the inter-parliamentary
dialogue.
From: A. Papazian