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On February 18 the RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan received the Delegation led by John Whittingdale, Head of the British Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (UK House of Commons). The Delegation comprises of the Deputy Speakers of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom Baroness Gloria Hooper, the MP Lord Richard Faulkner, and members of the House of Commons Stephen Pound and Mike Gapes.

Welcoming the guests, the NA President has documented that during the last two years an activation of bilateral political contacts has been recorded between Armenia and Great Britain, and the cooperation between the two countries has recorded considerable rise in numerous spheres. In his word, Armenia highlights the development of bilateral and multilateral relations and the activation of the political dialogue at high level. The NA President highlighted the fact of the involvement of the UK Government and the NGOs and deemed an achievement the creation of Armenia-Great Britain Chamber of Commerce in Yerevan. Reserving a special role to the development of relations between the legislative bodies in the development and enlargement of the Armenian-British inner-state cooperation Hovik Abrahamyan noted: “We highlight the inter-parliamentary cooperation between Armenia and Great Britain, with the conviction that the parliamentary diplomacy is one of the important levers advancing the political dialogue between the countries. We are interested in boosting the inter-parliamentary cooperation. Introducing the regional developments, Hovik Abrahamyan touched upon the settlement of the Karabakh problem, the Armenian-Turkish relations and deemed important the necessity of shaping an objective opinion on them in the international arena. “The accumulation of the unleashed and the year by year more intensifying arm racing by Azerbaijan is a serious threat not only for the South Caucasus, but also for the regional security and stability. Taking into account the hard process of the conflict settlement the balanced and unbiased position of the international community is of importance towards the regional countries,” the NA President. Touching upon the Armenian Genocide centenary anniversary, Hovik Abrahamyan has noted that Armenia highly appreciates the initiatives of the British-Armenian Co-party Parliamentary Group acting in the UK Parliament. He thanked Stephen Pound for his report in the UK House of Commons on February 11, where he has referred to and has given unbiased assessment to the Nagorno Karabakh conflict and the Armenian Genocide.

Touching upon the decision of Armenia’s joining the Customs Union, the NA President has noted that it stems from the interests of our country and is conditioned by the geo-political realities. In his word, that decision does not mean at all suspension of the political dialogue with the European Union. “Armenia highlights the cooperation and relations in various spheres with the European Union, which are based on common democratic values, human rights and rule of law,” Hovik Abrahamyan noted.

Thanking for the reception John Whittingdale, Head of the British Group Delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union expressed conviction that the official visit of the Group to Armenia would promote the development and deepening of the Armenian-British relations. In his word, Armenia has a big number of friends in the British Parliament, and to which promoted Hovik Abrahamyan’s working visit to Great Britain in 2011. The member of the House of Commons Stephen Pound noted: “You have a lot of friends in the British Parliament, who are next to Armenia and are concerned about its problems. The voice of Armenia is audible in the British Parliament. We would like Armenia to have stability and progress.” The British MPs also highlighted the deepening of the two parliaments and the necessity of the activation of bilateral contacts. The further development of the economic relations, as well as the cooperation in different spheres was considered important.

In the course of the meeting other issues were also discussed, both sides emphasized the stability and peace in the region and the peaceful settlement of the conflicts.