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On October 4, in the RA National Assembly the RA NA President Ara Babloyan and the President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament Milan Štěch had a briefing, during which they presented the format of the issues debated at their meeting.

Ara Babloyan has noted that issues on further cooperation between the two countries have been debated, which relate to both inter-parliamentary diplomacy and the inter-state relations.

“The Czech Republic is of our most important partners in Europe, and Armenia attaches great importance to the sustainable development of the friendly relations with the Czech Republic. In boosting of cooperation between the two parliaments the active cooperation between the Friendship Groups was highlighted,” the Head of the RA Parliament said.

He has noted that issues relating to the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide were also discussed, again documenting that it is a crime directed to the whole mankind, and the recognition and condemnation of such crimes is important for their further prevention.

Within the framework of the official discussions the NK issue settlement, particularly the solution of the issue exclusively through peaceful means particularly under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs, the non-constructive policy by Azerbaijan and the aggression on the line of contact was also touched upon.

The RA NA President referred to the negotiation procedure over the new legal document regulating the RA-EU relations, highlighted the bilateral relations within the framework of different international and regional organizations.

Thanking the RA NA President for the invitation and reception the President of the Senate of the Czech Parliament Milan Štěch has underlined that there have been effective discussions. He has noted that though Armenia and the Czech Republic are far from each other, but they have commonalities and same problems.

He has underscored with satisfaction that the Czech Republic assesses the development of the sphere of protection of human rights and democracy in Armenia, and added that Armenia is observed as a democratic country, where free and fair elections are held and there is freedom of speech.

Mr Štěch highlighted the expansion of the business relations between the two countries, noting that the deepening of economic relations in its turn would promote the rapprochement of the two countries. In this context he touched upon the efficiency of the Armenian-Czech Business Forum held today.

Regarding the NK problem, Mr Štěch noted: “I am only for one version: that is the peaceful settlement of the issue through the Minsk Group Co-Chairs, and I think that the superpowers, as the U.S., Russia and France should be able to provide the fair and peaceful solution of the problem.”

The President of the Czech Senate also talked about appearing Czech weapon in Azerbaijan, noting that the Czech Republic has not sold weapons to Azerbaijan. “The Czech Republic respects the embargo, which is put on such dangerous countries. I don’t understand how those weapons have reached Azerbaijan, but I assure that the Czech authorities have not given consent to it,” Milan Štěch underlined.