Category: 2017

YEREVAN. –  Republic of Armenia National Assembly (RA NA) Chairman Ara Babloyan on Thursday received President Ankie Broekers-Knol of the Senate of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

Welcoming the President of the Dutch Senate in the RA National Assembly, Babloyan noted that the visit takes place in the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and expressed hope that it would promote the deepening and development of the state and parliamentary ties, the NA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Talking about passing into the processes following the constitutional reforms in Armenia and the system of the parliamentary government, he highlighted the centuries-old track-record of the parliamentary government of the Netherlands and considered it instructive, in terms of the exchange of experience. The RA NA speaker noted that Armenia goes to democracy and power decentralization with distinct walks.

According to Ara Babloyan, Armenia is the only country, which being a Eurasian Economic Union member, will sign the agreement with the EU, becoming a bridge between Europe and Asia.

The RA NA President thanked the Kingdom of the Netherlands for giving shelter to the emigrants, who had survived Armenian Genocide, and accepting and condemning the Genocide, noting that the condemnation is a way of prevention.

Touching upon the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict, Ara Babloyan stated that different comments are given to this issue, but it is historically proved that the Armenians have lived on that territory and holding independence referendum, have gained independence. In the words of the head of the Armenian parliament, the Artsakh people were considered to be the first that during the years of the Soviet Union voiced out loud the exercise the nations’ right to self-determination and protection of human rights.

Ara Babloyan documented: “We have no problem with the people of Azerbaijan. Our problem is to ensure the security of the Artsakh people, solving the issue under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs through the peaceful negotiations.”

Ara Babloyan expressed the hope that Armenia and the Netherlands will deepen cooperation in education, health care and culture, contributing to their peoples’ peaceful and well-to-do life. The RA NA president stated that the peoples’ security, health and education are of priority for the two countries.

Ankie Broekers-Knol, for her part, said it is a great honor for her to visit Armenia. In the words of the President of the Dutch senate, Armenia has an important position in the region and can become a bridge between the East and the West, connecting peoples and countries.

Broekers-Knol, as a speaker of the senate of a country with parliamentary government, highlighted the constitutional reforms held in Armenia and the processes following them on the way of democratic development.

Also, chairman Ara Babloyan of the RA National Assembly and president Ankie Broekers-Knol of the Dutch senate planted a fir at the RA National Assembly garden, as a token of the two peoples’ everlasting friendship.

YEREVAN. – President of the Senate of the Netherlands, Ankie Broekers-Knol, who is in Armenia on an official visit, on Thursday paid a visit to the Armenian Genocide Memorial in capital city Yerevan.

She laid a wreath at the monument to the genocide victims, placed flowers at the Eternal Flame, and paid silent tribute the Holy Martyrs of this tragedy, the National Assembly of Armenia informed Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Also, the high-level guest toured the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute, and she signed its guestbook.

Speaker of the Dutch senate said this was her first visit to the museum, and she is deeply shocked by the horrible and terrible sufferings which the Armenian people had gone through.

 

 

 

A large-scale attempt of falsification undertaken by Azerbaijan, aimed at neutralizing the efforts of the international community towards the settlement of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, as well as damaging the developing relations between Armenia and EU on the eve of the Eastern Partnership summit in Brussels was thwarted at the European Parliament.

The destructive steps of Azerbaijani side were managed to be identified thanks to the permanent representation of Armenia is Brussels, as well as the targeted work of the Armenian lobbying organizations in Brussels.

At the plenary session of the European Parliament a resolution was adopted with an overwhelming majority of votes. In the resolution, for already the second time, the right of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh to self-determination is practically recognized by repeating the precedent taken in connection with the 72nd session of General Assembly of UN, when due to persistent efforts of the Armenian side in Brussels, the European Parliament recognized the right of Artsakh people to self-determination.

This resolution is of a significant importance, because it determines the expectations of the partnership at the eve of the Eastern Partnership. It also points on the logic of the further development of the Eastern Partnership, that’s why there is no wonder that Azerbaijani side put efforts to change the main idea and the logic of the resolution.

Particularly, the Azerbaijani side, acting in it style of “Laundromat”, could manage to make the authors add twenty annexes that are against the peaceful regulation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and are against Armenia. The additions represented Nagorno-Karabakh as a part of Azerbaijan and contained other pro-Azeri wordings and demanded the return the refugees.

Nonetheless, due to the principal attitude of the European side and the persistent work of the Armenian side, all the destructive annexes of the Azerbaijani side were rejected. Moreover, the right of Nagorno-Karabakh people to self-determination was again ascertained.

After the rejection of the annexes where Armenia was depicted in negative light, Armenia was announced to be a positive example and a relating link in the two integration areas of the EU and the Eurasian Union.

Thus, another Azerbaijani provocation faced a serious opposition in Brussels, thanks to the Armenian diplomacy in favor of the peaceful regulation of Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the development of Armenia-EU relationship.

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov will visit Armenia and Azerbaijan soon, spokesperson for the Russian foreign office Maria Zakharova said.

Lavrov will visit Yerevan on November 20-21 where he expected to meet with the Armenian president and foreign minister, she told a briefing on Thursday.

The visit marks the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and the 20th anniversary of a large treaty on friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance signed between Armenia and Russia.

“The agenda includes the wide range of cooperation issues. The prospects for the settlement of the Karabakh issue will be discussed,” Zakharova said.

On November 20, Sergey Lavrov will pay an official visit to Azerbaijan. Negotiations are planned with the Azerbaijani foreign minister.

“We have repeatedly said that Azerbaijan is our important strategic partner in the Caucasus. This year we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between our countries.”

Zakharova also noted that Russia, along with the other co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group, continues to contribute to the settlement of the Karabakh conflict.