On October 13 the RA National Assembly Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov being in Geneva on a working visit within the framework of the 131^st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union met with Marios Garoian, Armenian member of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Cyprus, and Averof Neofytou, the member of the House of Representatives and the Head of the Delegation of Cyprus to the Inter-Parliamentary Union.

The NA Deputy Speaker has noted that the historical rich legacy, the spiritual values, as well as the mutual understanding and trust between Armenia and Cyprus unite the two countries.

Eduard Sharmazanov has highly assessed Marios Garoian’s personal contribution to the strengthening and development of the Armenian-Cypriot friendly relations, especially during the period when he has been Speaker of the Parliament of Cyprus.

The NA Deputy Speaker has greatly highlighted the close cooperation and mutual support of the parliaments of the two countries in different international and regional organizations. He has noticed that Cyprus is one of the EU member countries with which Armenia has shaped close and friendly relations: a fact that gives an opportunity to Armenia to rely on the support of Cyprus, particularly, over the issues of bilateral interest within the framework of the Council of Europe, OSCE, NATO and BSCE Parliamentary Assemblies.

Eduard Sharmazanov has also touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh and Cypriot problems, noticing that the positions of Armenia and Cyprus do not contradict each other. The NA Deputy Speaker has considered inadmissible the occupation of a part of Cyprus and blockade of Armenia by Turkey.

Talking about the necessity of the international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide Eduard Sharmazanov has expressed his gratitude that the Parliament of Cyprus has been one of the first countries to recognize the Armenian Genocide. He has invited Marios Garoian to take part in the events to be held in connection with the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide in Yerevan.

The NA Deputy Speaker proposed Marios Garoian and Averof Neofytou to hold an exhibition dedicated to the Armenian Genocide in the Parliament of Cyprus: the Cypriot side has given its consent.