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On March 13 the NA Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov met with the students of Yerevan State University and Yerevan Valery Brusov Linguistic University. A sincere and intimate dialogue was held between Mr Sharmazanov and students of the universities. The students were interested in the inner political situation ruling in the country and the pre-electoral developments, as well as the foreign political events.

The students asked Eduard Sharmazanov to introduce his approaches on the current and perspective developments of cooperation between Armenia and Baltic countries, as well as the present level of the Armenian-Georgian relations. The NA Deputy Speaker has noted that Armenia implements distinct policy in deepening European integration, harmonizing the legislation with European standards. In this context he has highlighted the upcoming parliamentary elections and has ensured that the Armenian authorities are ready to hold democratic elections. The NA Deputy Speaker has highly appreciated the relations of Armenia with the Baltic countries. He has informed them that during his visit to Lithuania recently his Lithuanian counterparts have ensured that they will actively support Armenia on the way to European integration. To the NA Deputy Speaker’s assessment in this sphere the Lithuanian experience can be instructive for the Armenian side.

Eduard Sharmazanov has also emphasized the Armenian-Georgian relations, which have been historically friendly. The NA Deputy Speaker also highlighted the relations with Georgia in strategic sense. Armenia is in blockade by Turkey and Azerbaijan, and despite the appeals of the international community to open the Armenian-Turkish border Turkey continues his policy of blockade. In this political situation Georgia remains one of the most important links connecting our country with the outer world.

In response to the one of the students’ question if the opposition figures’ criticism is being taken into account, the NA Deputy Speaker has answered that the cases are numerous when the representatives of opposition and power cooperate in elaboration of the draft laws. He has noted that the representatives of opposition and power cooperate for the benefit of our country in international diplomatic structures. “It’s not always that the opposition is wrong, and it’s not always that the power is right,” Eduard Sharmazanov said.

Erik Stepanyan, the student of Yerevan State University was concerned about the tension created around Iran and was interested in the issue, what dangers will be for Armenia in case of war actions. In Mr Sharmazanov’s opinion, in Iran, as well as Syria, the destabilization of the situation in Syria will be a cause of humanitarian crisis in Armenia. He is convinced that the war will result in painful consequences for our country, as Iran is a unique road for Armenia. “We are for the peaceful solution of Iran’s problem.” the NA Deputy Speaker noted.

At the students’ request Mr Sharmazanov has also touched upon the educational reforms, stressing that the education is a sensible sphere, and here we should carefully make any change. “I think we should facilitate the entrance to University and make difficult graduating from it, in order, in reality, the best specialists graduate it,” he noted.

In the course of the meeting they also referred to the Armenians not participating in “Eurovision –2012” Song Contest, the settlement of the NK problem, the cleaning of Yerevan and problems of preventing the emigration.