On September 4 the heads of the youth organizations of the five members of the European Union and four countries of the region were at the National Assembly within the framework of the cognitive visit by the assistance of the Youth in Motion Program of the European Committee.

Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan, Chair of the Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, and Mr. Avet Adonts, Chair of the Standing Committee on European Integration, received them.

Mrs. Hranush Hakobyan presented the youth the functions, regulation and the structure of the National Assembly. Touching upon the problems of the youth policy she noted that the problems of the youth are always in the center of attention of the National Assembly and of the committee, headed by her as well as they closely work with the youth organizations: the young people are enabled to participate in the discussions of the bills related to them as well as to present their proposals. Mrs. Hakobyan emphasized the importance of the activity of the young parliamentarians, their cooperation with the National Assembly and the government. Chair of the committee also touched upon the problems of the reforms of the educational system. It was noted that the vector of the development of Armenia is directed to Europe. The human rights and fundamental freedoms are considered as the supreme value in Armenia, which is fixed in the RA Constitution and the major task of the National Assembly is the harmonization of the legislation of the country with the European one.

Mr. Avet Adonts, Chair of the Standing Committee on European Integration, presented them the problems and the field of activity of newly-established Standing Committee, headed by him, noting that becoming the member of the Council of Europe in 2001, Armenia undertook obligations, which have always been in the focus of the RA President Robert Kocharyan’s attention and have been already fulfilled by 95 %. The Chair of the committee regretfully noted that the execution of the obligation on overcoming the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict will still stay as an obligation for some time. According to him Armenia-European Union cooperation entered a qualitative new stage, the implementation “EU: new neighbors ” action plan has begun since September, where the three republics of Southern Caucasus are included.

At the end of the meeting Mr. Adonts and Mrs. Hakopyan answered the guests’ questions.