On October 6 in Geneva within the framework of the 129th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) the RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan met with the President of the German Bundestag Norbert Lammert.
During the meeting the sides touched upon Armenia-Germany relations, highlighted the further deepening of inter-parliamentary relations, discussed issues relating to the recent regional developments and of bilateral interest.
Hovik Abrahamyan congratulated Norbert Lammert on the occasion of the victory won by the Christian-Democratic Union led by Angela Merkel in the next parliamentary elections held on September 22. He highly assessed the current level of the Armenian-German relations, noting that Armenia is greatly interested in expanding the relations with Germany, with bilateral, as well as multilateral dimensions. The NA President has noted that Armenia would continue to remain committed to the European values and principles, and we are resolute together with our European partners to expand and deepen the process of institutional reforms aimed at continuous strengthening of democracy, human rights and rule of law. Touching upon the recent developments Hovik Abrahamyan has noted that Armenia is led by principle of comparing the interests and continues to deepen and expand the relations both with the European partners and the strategic ally Russian Federation. In his word, the European Union has been and continues to remain one of the most important partners of Armenia. Hovik Abrahamyan has noted that our country has always been open for cooperation in all international platforms, has been for the benefit of integration processes, but has never ignored the strategic interests of the country, especially in the conditions of closed borders and the conflict.
Highlighting the programme International Parliamentary Scholarship sponsored by Bundestag, which gives opportunity to get acquainted with the political and economic system of Germany for the younger generation of Armenia, Hovik Abrahamyan has noted that the National Assembly is also ready to accept two students from 2014, enabling the German students to get acquainted with the political and economic system of Armenia.
The President of the German Bundestag thanked for the congratulations and introduced the inner-political situation in Germany after the parliamentary elections and the correlation of political forces in Bundestag. Norbert Lammert emphasized the further development of Armenia-Germany relations, the deepening of inter-parliamentary cooperation, and the reinforcement of partnership in a number of spheres. The President of Bundestag has stressed that Germany is concerned about developing the relations with Armenia in different directions, noting that the recent developments have not decreased the interest towards our country and Germany respects the decision of Armenia joining the Customs Union. He has also highlighted the further deepening of EU-Armenia relations and has noted that as sustaianble go on the democratic processes in Armenia, as more dynamic will develop Armenia-EU relations.
At the end of the meeting the President of Bundestag invited Hovik Abrahamyan to Germany on an official visit.