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The delegation headed by the RA NA President Ara Babloyan comprised of the RA NA Vice President Mikayel Melkumyan, the RA NA deputies Armen Ashotyan, Armen Rustamyan, Gevorg Gorgisyan, Shushan Sardaryan and Shirak Torosyan is on an official visit in Switzerland.

On September 25, the RA NA President Ara Babloyan met with the President of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation Dominique de Buman.

Welcoming the Armenian parliamentarians, the President of the National Council of Switzerland, expressed his gratitude for the warm reception he enjoyed during his visit in Armenia in February of this year. Dominique de Buman welcomed the democratic processes happened in our country, noting that they could be the best impetus for the further development and prosperity of the country. “All that is understandable for me, as Armenia is a country of culture and best traditions,” Dominique de Buman said.

Expressing his gratitude for the invitation and warm reception, Ara Babloyan has stated that Armenia greatly highlights the stability and continuity of the relations with Switzerland, a political dialogue of high level is formed, the inter-parliamentary relations, the cooperation of the Friendship Groups are active, and there is an atmosphere of mutual trust and mutual understanding. He expressed hope that this visit would promote the further strengthening of the bilateral inter-parliamentary relations.

“The friendship of the two countries’ peoples has a history of many centuries, Switzerland has always been at the Armenian people’s side in different situations,” the Head of the RA Parliament said, underlining as a proof the intermediary role of Switzerland in the settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations.

“In our meetings I have repeatedly noted that we have no problems with the people of Turkey and Azerbaijan, we have a problem with the heads, who cannot understand or assess the values that we share with you. We should aspire to do everything to protect the developing democracy and human rights in Armenia and in Artsakh,” the President of the RA National Assembly underscored. According to him, it is hard to develop democracy and open doors to Europe in a region, where on behalf of Turkey and Azerbaijan the authoritarian regime is established.

Touching upon the events in Armenia, Ara Babloyan stressed that Armenia once again succeeded surprising the world with its humanity, tolerance and achievements of democracy. He expressed confidence that regardless of the change of political forces, the Armenian-Swiss relations would continue to develop with the same spirit.

The parties also touched upon the necessity of the activation of bilateral economic ties, emphasized the cooperation, particularly in the spheres of agriculture, science and tourism, within the framework of the educational programmes.

At the end of the meeting the RA NA President Ara Babloyan left a note in the Book of Honourable Guests, in the Golden Book. Afterwards, the RA parliamentary delegation took a tour in the parliament, took part in the sitting of the National Council, during which the Swiss legislators welcomed the Armenian parliamentarians.