1 / 2

On October 15 in Nicosia the President of the Republic of Cyprus Dimitris Christofias received the delegation led by RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan.

Greeting the guests the President of Cyprus noted that the existing relations between the two countries were friendly and warm, to which also greatly contributed the activity of the Armenian community. He emphasized the development of the inter-parliamentary relations, also considering necessary the activation of the cooperation in the spheres of economy, science, culture and other spheres. President Christofias underlined that Cyprus was always next to Armenia as a stable counterpart and friend.

The President of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan thanked for warm reception and noted that he was in a country, which showed its friendly and close attitude towards Armenia for centuries, which was also conditioned by the common features of our ancient history and almost by our same destiny. He expressed gratitude to the President of Cyprus for the warm attitude shown towards the Armenian community and for financing the Armenian schools. The NA President noted that Armenia greatly highlighted the development of the cooperation with Cyprus. Armenia observes the Armenian-Cypriot cooperation as an important component in the general context of Armenia’s Euro Integration policy, taking into account the experience of Cyprus in the European structures. Hovik Abrahamyan noted that the political, as well as inter-parliamentary relations with Cyprus were at high level, however there was big potential for their expansion and more rapprochement. He expressed conviction that the planned official visit of RA President in January 2011 would more promote the strengthening of political strengthening.

During the meeting the sides touched upon issues concerning the Armenian-Turkish, Cypriot-Turkish relations, regional problems. Mr. Abrahamyan stressed that Armenia saw the settlement of the Karabakh conflict only within the OSCE Minsk Group. The cooperation in international structures was highlighted.

At the end of the meeting the President of Cyprus asked to convey his warm greetings to RA President Serzh Sargsyan and noted that he expected his official visit to Cyprus.

On the same day the delegation led by RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan met with the President of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Cyprus Marios Garoyian.

Marios Garoyian thanked the NA President for accepting his invitation and visiting Cyprus. He underlined the importance of the existing excellent relations between the two countries, which directed to the further development of bilateral relations and its deepening for friendly peoples, which were united both with history and common values and principles. The President of the Cypriot Parliament noted that in friendly relations of the two countries the Cypriot Armenians had important role, fully taking part in the political, economic and cultural life of Cyprus, preserving their identity.

Touching upon the inter-parliamentary cooperation Mr Garoyian considered necessary the activation of bilateral contacts, the works of the inter-parliamentary committee the cooperation at the level of staffs. He expressed willingness to organize an exhibition dedicated to Armenia in the Parliament of Cyprus, which would give opportunity to the society of Cyprus to closely get familiarized with Armenia and Armenian culture.

Marios Garoyian stressed that in the international structures Armenia could rely on the unreserved support of Cyprus.

Expressing his gratitude for the invitation of visiting Cyprus and for warm reception, RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan reserved a special role to the further expansion between the legislative bodies for further deepening of the Armenian-Cypriot inter-state cooperation. The NA President noted that the Armenian-Cypriot inter-parliamentary relations rather actively developed  and considered necessary the activation of the works of the functioning cooperation of the inter-parliamentary committees in the parliaments and the mutual visits of the delegations. Considering important the experience of Cyprus in the European integration process, Hovik Abrahamyan considered expedient to develop the possibilities of the exchange of experience in complying Armenia’s legislation with EU standards. Hovik Abrahamyan considered necessary the activation of cooperation in the spheres of economy, culture and other spheres. The President of the National Assembly highlighted the close cooperation and mutual support between the parliaments of the two countries over the issues of bilateral interest in different international organizations, in particular, within the frameworks of the Council of Europe, OSCE, NATO and BSEC Parliamentary Assemblies. He noted that the parliamentary diplomacy was one of the important levers driving forward the political dialogue between the countries.

In the course of the meeting the parties touched upon the external and inner political problems of Armenia and Cyprus, discussed other issues of bilateral interest.

After the meeting the presidents of the parliaments of the two countries gave briefing for the journalists on the results of the meeting.

In Nicosia the NA President and the members of the delegation visited Narek Armenian College, Armenian Church, laid a wreath at the memorial to the Armneian Genocide victims.

The delegation led by NA President Hovik Abrahamyan also met with the Mayor of Nicosia Mrs Eleni Mavru. After the meeting accompanied by Mrs Mavru the Armenian parliamentarians visited the Cypriot-Turkish ceasefire line.

On the same day Hovik Abrahamyan visited Lefkara historical-cultural complex.