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On February 12, the Chairperson of the RA NA Standing Committee on European Integration Mrs. Naira Zohrabyan received young federalists of Norway Stein Ramstad, Ingrid Oyvann, Trygve Lehne, Morten Kleveland, Bard Skaar Viken and Jussi Flemming Bioern.

The Chairperson of the RA NA Standing Committee on European Integration Mrs. Naira Zohrabyan presented the structure of the Armenian parliament, and the work of the NA standing committees. The guests were interested in the parliamentary opposition’s rights defense in Armenia’s legislative body. Mrs. Zohrabyan presented the law concerning opposition’s powers and competences, noting that two key committees of the lead the parliamentary opposition’s representatives. He said that in the basis of the above-mentioned law, D’Hondt’s well-known method, by which parliaments of CE and EU numerous member countries are led.

Touching upon the regional problems Mrs. Zohrabyan noted that it would be right that Norway would have balanced approach and attitude towards all countries of the region. According to Mrs. Zohrabyan, the interests of Norway in our region mostly are conditioned by the exploitation of Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline, as a great number of investments in Azerbaijan by the Norwegian Statoil state company have been made in the spheres of construction and exploitation of the oil pipeline.

At the meeting both sides also touched upon the problem women’s representation in the political processes. In this issue Mrs. Zohrabyan highlighted the experience of Norway, noting that the women’s representation in the Norwegian parliament and in the government makes more than 40 per cent. The Committee Chairperson spoke about the laws of gender equality, which are on the agenda of the parliament, and will certainly be called into life.

The Norwegian young people were interested in Armenia’s involvement in the processes of European integration. In this context Mrs. Naira Zohrabyan highlighted Armenia’s relations with the Council of Europe and the European Union, highlighting the EU Neighbourhood policy and Eastern Partnership programmes.

In the course of the meeting both sides also referred to Armenia-Turkey relations, NK problem and other issues of mutual interest.