The National Assembly of Armenia received status of observer in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN IPA). The Chair of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Sargis Khandanyan said this, presenting for debate the issue on forming the RA NA parliamentary delegation to the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly.
The Committee Chair informed that the ASEAN is a regional Assembly, where there are 10 Southeast Asian countries, which act as full-fledged member. Parliaments of a number of countries have a status of observer. The countries of our region, the U.S. Congress, the RF Federal Council, the parliaments of Canada, India, Japan, China and the European Parliament have a status of observer.
Sargis Khandanyan noted that the negotiations on receiving status of observer of the National Assembly of Armenia in the structure began in the previous year. As a result, during the ASEAN IPA meeting held in August 2023, the status of the observer of the NA of our country in the organization was approved, on which the RA NA President was informed with a letter.
According to the Committee Chair, the delegation of the parliament with a status of observer is formed with two versions: three main members or three main and three substitute members. Armenia has chosen the third version for the formation of the delegation.
The Committee endorsed the initiative on forming the RA NA Parliamentary delegation for having a status of observer to the ASEAN IPA.
The process for the formation of the delegation will begin during the upcoming sittings of the NA Council.