On February 16 the second meeting of the Inter-parliamentary Cooperation Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus was held.

Mr. Vahan Hovhannisyan, Co-chair of the Inter-parliamentary Cooperation Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and Vice President of the National Assembly, highly assessing the Armenian-Belarusian inter-parliamentary relations, highlighted the development of the mutual cooperation between two parliaments specifying in this context the activity of the inter-parliamentary committee and the cooperation in the international structures. Mr. Hovhannisyan also emphasized the cooperation in the fields of economy, agriculture, high technologies, military industry and air communication. The Vice President of the National Assembly was concerned about the low level of the goods turnover, noting that the two countries have unused potential of the development of the trade relations, which could be useful and productive for both countries.

Mr. Sergei Zabolotets, Co-chair of the Inter-parliamentary Cooperation Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus and Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, highlighted the inter-parliamentary cooperation, the rapprochement of the national legislations and the exchange of the legislative experience. It was noted that the signing of the agreement on the inter-parliamentary cooperation highly promoted the development of the mutual relations. The productive work of the inter-parliamentary cooperation committee was highly assessed, which could highly promote the development of the legal-contractual basis, the establishment of the inter-regional cooperation, the establishment of the economic, scientific and cultural relations between the regions and cities of two countries, the cooperation in the international structures as well as in the spheres of economy, science, power and agriculture was highlighted. The opportunity of the establishment of the joint ventures was also emphasized.

MP Mr. Manvel Badeyan, member of the Inter-parliamentary Committee, spoke about the importance of the economic mutual cooperation, noting that it is necessary to bring the economic mutual cooperation to the level of the political cooperation. He also considered important the mutual cooperation in the spheres of high technologies, construction, the increase of the volumes of the goods turnover, as an appropriate legal-contractual field was established and there aren’t any obstacles in this aspect.

Mr. Aleksandr Arkhipov, Chairman of the Committee on Legislation and Legal and Judicial Issues, in his speech touched upon the legal-contractual field, established between two countries, noting that numerous bilateral and multilateral agreements were signed, which create an opportunity for both countries to develop mutually advantageous cooperation in different directions. The Armenian-Belarusian Inter-governmental Joint Commission on trade and economic issues was set up in 1999 with the purpose of solving the problems in the sphere of economic cooperation and strengthening of mutual relations, during the activity of which a number of documents related to the economic cooperation were signed.The development of the inter-regional cooperation was highlighted in the context of the bilateral economic mutual cooperation. The regions of Minsk, Vitebsk, Grodno and Gomel from Belarus and the regions of Syunik, Kotayk, Ararat and Tavush from Armenia, as well as the cities Yerevan, Minsk and Zhodino, Kajaran are involved in this. The coordinated work of the executive and legislative bodies in the aspect of the further development of the mutual cooperation was highlighted.

The next issue of the second meeting of the Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus referred to the cooperation of the two countries in the international parliamentary structures. The Co-chairs took the floor on the theme.

Mr. Vahan Hovhannisyan, Vice President of the National Assembly, talked on pressures applied towards Belarus, noting that there is often a collision when there is a misunderstood issue in the international structures. Stressing that there is not a country in the world, where the level of the development of democracy complies with the notions and wishes of other country, the Vice President of the National Assembly expressed hope that the assessments sounded from the West, on Belarus of not being a sufficient democratic country does not correspond to the reality. The cause of the pressures in case of Armenia, according to the speaker, is the unsolved conflict of Karabakh, though everybody knows that the behaviour of the Azerbaijani authorities hampers its regulation. But Azerbaijan has oil and gas, which causes Armenia and Azerbaijan to be on the same plane in the international structures. The friendly traditions, mutual interests and sympathy of Armenia and Belarus oblige to be more attentive towards each others’ interests, especially when the two countries are in one system of defense and security, noted Mr. Vahan Hohannisyan. Today, the basic field, where the parliaments of the two countries can have an active cooperation, is the OSCE PA. The Vice President of the National Assembly is pleased with the cooperation and mutual support within the framework of this structure. The issue of energy security will be discussed in the Winter Meeting of OSCE PA in Vienna. Mr. Vahan Hovhannisyan talked about the economic blockade of Armenia. He conveyed his wish to his Belarus partners to give more attention to mutual relations of Azerbaijan and Turkey with Armenia. The Vice-President of the National Assembly expressed readiness to give materials about the Armenian Genocide to his colleagues in order to have true understanding about the problem and not be guided by unilateral and false comments of Turkey, aspiring to become a member of the European Union.

Mr. Sergei Zabolotets considers a serious omission that the Organization of Collective Security Treaty (OCST) has not a parliamentary structure. The Belarus MPs addressed the leaders of the member-countries a proposal of setting up a similar structure. The Belarusian side has never protected any attempt of isolating any country. Belarus will not protect any project on isolation or detour of Armenia too, declared Mr. Sergei Zabolotets. As he assured, the isolation or non-recognition of any country only causes harm to the common cause.

Talking on cooperation, the Belarus co-chairman noted the military-industrial sphere, where he sees a big potential. There are joint programs in this sphere also with the Russian Federation. The Co-chairman emphasized, that they will preserve not only today's, but also earlier shaped traditions of friendship with Armenia.

The second meeting of Inter-parliamentary Cooperation Committee was completed with the discussion of the draft protocol. It contains assignments on the issues of the agenda. According to the document, the next meeting will take place in October of this year in Belarus. Issues on energy security will be discussed.

The protocol will be signed on February 17.

Mr. Sergei Zabolotets Co-chairman of the Inter-parliamentary Cooperation Committee of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, Vice President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus, and the members in the National Assembly met with Mr. Armen Roustamyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations and with the members of the committee.

The sides highly assessed the current level of relations of the two countries, emphasized the importance of activation of inter-parliamentary ties, cooperation in the international structures, partnership in the spheres of economy, trade, high technologies, agriculture and energy. The Belarus side expressed gratitude for support in the international parliamentary organizations and for mutually advantageous cooperation. It was noted, that despite the growth of the volumes of goods turnover recorded in recent years, it is not sufficient in the sense of bilateral development of economic relations.

Other issues of bilateral interest and referring to inner political situation of the two countries were also discussed during the meeting.