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Prior to the official meetings the RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, Ukrainian Supreme Rada Speaker Vladimir Litvin and the delegation members paid tribute to memory of the victims of 27 October 1999 crime, laid flowers at the memorial eternalizing their memory.

Afterwards the private conversation of the two parliament speakers took place, during which problems relating to intensification of bilateral ties, deepening of Interparliamentary action and issues of mutual concern were considered.

After the private talk the RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan and Ukrainian Supreme Rada Speaker Vladimir Litvin participated in the extended meeting of the parliamentary delegations of the two countries. 

Welcoming and highlighting Ukrainian colleague’s visit to Armenia Hovik Abrahamyan expressed confidence that mutual visits and public discussions of issues would promote the effective cooperation and interaction development of the two states: “Today parliamentary diplomacy plays a crucial role in the reinforcement of bilateral relations, and I am sure that your visit to Yerevan will serve as an additional impetus for broadening and strengthening of Interparliamentary cooperation, ” said the RA NA Speaker. “We should foster the efficient cooperation between our parliaments and the intensification of parliamentary friendship group work. But I suggest our moving forward and creating Interparliamentary Cooperation Committee between the Armenian National Assembly and Ukrainian Supreme Rada on the basis of friendship groups. I believe that in this case the parliaments of our countries can more effectively promote closer interstate cooperation between our countries in all the directions,” stated Hovik Abrahamyan, wishing the visit of the Supreme Rada delegation become only the start of a long series of permanent ties, meetings, contacts to settle key issues of the parliaments to support further efficient development of the two countries and genuinely friendly cooperation aimed at peoples’ welfare.

Vladimir Litvin, Ukrainian Supreme Rada Speaker, positively assessing the level of political dialogue between the two countries, mentioned that all the conditions were in place to make the relations closer in different fields. In terms of development of interstate relations he highly appreciated the RA President Serzh Sargsyan’s official visit to Ukraine .

Mr. Litvin welcomed the RA NA Speaker’s proposal to establish Interparliamentary Cooperation Committee. The Supreme Rada Speaker invited the RA NA Speaker to pay a reciprocal official visit to Ukraine .

The RA NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan highly appreciated Armenian-Ukrainian relations. In his words more than 70 interstate contracts and intergovernmental agreements signed between the two countries are sound basis for the multilateral cooperation. “Interparliamentary cooperation also occupies an important place in bilateral relations, ” noted Hovik Abrahamyan. “Armenian and Ukrainian Parliaments successfully cooperate in the framework of the CIS Interparliamentary Assembly, but we haven’t yet reached a full cooperation in other Interparliamentary organizations, though some positive shifts are seen recently. ”       

The NA Speaker mentioned that Ukraine was the third trade partner to Armenia in the CIS. Despite the world economic crisis the goods turnover between Armenia and Ukraine increased by 70 mln USD over 2005-2010. “I am convinced that restart of Armenian-Ukrainian Intergovernmental Economic Cooperation Committee activity, organization of business forums, and what is most important, the President Serzh Sargsyan’s recent visit to Ukraine and the arrangements made between the presidents inspire hope that our economies may effectively cooperate in the near future, ” said Hovik Abrahamyan, adding that it can significantly be fostered by interregional cooperation, advancement of trade-economic, cultural and educational ties between the two courtiers.    

Naira Zohrabyan, Chairwoman of the RA NA Standing Committee on European Integration, highlighted the intensification of cooperation between Armenian and Ukrainian delegations in the international structures, mainly in PACE and EURONEST. Armen Rustamyan, Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, who emphasized the necessity to display adequate approach and impartial attitudes, agreed with her.

The Ukrainian Supreme Rada Speaker stated that the permanent cooperation between the parliaments would give an opportunity to clarify the approaches and specify attitudes.

Turning to the Armenian community in Ukraine, the NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan noted that currently the Armenian Diaspora there was comprised of around 4000 people. “I am convinced that Armenians contribute their endeavors, talent and skills to the development of contemporary Ukraine, as it was in the past, and I hope that the caring and friendly treatment to our compatriots will also continue from now on ,” stated Hovik Abrahamyan.  

Nver Mkhitaryan, Member of Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada, noted that the Armenian community in Ukraine felt very confident and was one of the respected communities in the country.

  After the parliamentary meetings the delegation led by Vladimir Litvin, Ukrainian Supreme Rada Speaker, visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex. The Ukrainian parliamentarians laid flowers at the memorial to the Armenian Genocide victims, attended the Genocide Museum . Vladimir Litvin planted a fir tree in the “ Memory Park ”.  

The visit of the delegation headed by Vladimir Litvin, Ukrainian Supreme Rada Speaker, goes on.