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On June 13, the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Armen Ashotyan received the Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Ambassador Piotr Świtalski.

Welcoming the Ambassador in the National Assembly, Armen Ashotyan has underlined that the relations of Armenia with the European Union have been and remain one of the most important directions of Armenia’s foreign policy. In this context, Armen Ashotyan assured that the traditional partnership relations with the EU Delegation to Armenia will not only continue, but will also include more inclusive spheres of cooperation.

Touching upon the RA-EU relations, Armen Ashotyan expressed hope that in the upcoming Brussels Summit the signing of the RA-EU new Comprehensive Agreement will serve a new basis for the deepest development of bilateral relations.

In the course of the meeting the parties emphasized and exchanged thoughts over the programmes directed to the development of the RA NA capabilities in the context of passing into parliamentary government system. In this aspect the interlocutors touched upon the possible ways of cooperation with the EU delegation to Armenia.

During the meeting the parties also talked about the principle of the RA-EU policy “more-for-more,” and in connection with that Armen Ashotyan has noted that in this context Armenia expects from the European Union more stressed political support also on the external political plane.

In his word, the Committee Chair expressed hope that after signing the RA-EU new Comprehensive Agreement the next negotiating process will be directed to the visa liberalisation process.

At the meeting the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Relations also expressed his concern in relation to the kidnapping of the Azerbaijani opposition journalist and activist Afghan Mukhtarli in Georgia. Armen Ashotyan has underlined the fact that Azerbaijan’s policy aimed at the violation of human rights already from the territory of its state becomes a threat for the whole region. In this context, Armen Ashotyan welcomed the viewpoint of the European External Action Service (EEAS) and expressed hope that the European structures will be consistent for the transparent and unbiased investigation.

In the course of the meeting the parties have also referred to the fact of closing the OSCE Office, which supposes the bigger responsibility of the European Union in the works being done in the sphere of human rights and democratic reforms.

At the end of the meeting the sides expressed readiness of more active and effective cooperation.