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On November 7 the tenth sitting of the RA NA-NKR NA Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation was held. The RA NA and the NKR NA deputies took part in the jubilee sitting. In his opening speech the RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan welcomed the guests in the RA National Assembly and congratulated the attendees on the occasion of the tenth sitting of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation between the two parliaments. The RA NA Speaker has noted that the activity of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee between the RA NA and the NKR NA has given a new quality to Armenia-Artsakh inter-state relations. In the RA NA Speaker’s word, the united will and the consequent implementation of the adopted and to be adopted decisions serve as a firm basis for the further development of Armenia-Artsakh partnership. In his speech Galust Sahakyan has noted that the problem of the peaceful settlement of the NK conflict is always at the centre of attention of the RA Parliament, and any agreement reached in that direction should enjoy the approval of the Nagorno Karabakh people. The RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan has highlighted the expansion and deepening of the relations between the National Assemblies of the Republic of Armenia and the Nagorno Karabakh Republic.

In the name of the deputies of the National Assembly of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic the NKR NA Speaker Ashot Ghulyan welcomed the attendees and noted that during the previous sitting the format of the issues to be discussed at today’s meeting had already been outlined. In the NKR NA Speaker’s word the discussions held in Stepanakert in June has brought to a general viewpoint that the main format of cooperation is expedient to move to joint sittings of the Standing Committees of the two parliaments and to a field of thematic discussions. In his speech Ashot Ghulyan touched upon the discussions going on over the Karabakh problem in the international parliamentary organizations and in that context he highly appreciated the work done by the RA delegations. The NKR NA Speaker thanked the RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan and the RA NA deputies for the warm reception and for creating an atmosphere of effective discussions. Then the participants of the sitting touched upon the agenda items.

The Chairmen of the Standing Committees on Foreign Relations, on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport and on State and Legal Affairs of the RA and NKR Parliaments summed up the joint sittings and discussions.

The Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Artak Zakaryan presented the work done at the two joint sittings and noted that during that period numerous effective meetings took place, and agreements were reached. The Chairman of the NKR NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Vahram Atanesyan also assessed effective the previous meetings and expressed willingness to closely cooperate at the level of the Standing Committees on Foreign Relations of the two parliaments.

The Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Science, Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Artak Davtyan emphasized the signed memorandum which observes the two republics as a common educational territory, and its centre is Shushi. Mr Davtyan spotlighted the participation of the NKR NA Representative in the work of the Youth Parliament. He noted that the exhibition entitled “Under Parajanov’s Light” was held and had a wide response not only in the RA, but also in Artsakh.

Then the second agenda item was discussed, which related to the discussions going on over the Karabakh problem in the international parliamentary organizations and the reports of the RA parliamentary delegations. The Chairman of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Artak Zakaryan presented the situation in the international parliamentary organizations, the presentation and the activities of the Armenian delegations.

The RA NA Deputy Speaker Hermine Naghdalyan, as the Head of the RA NA Delegation to PACE, has proposed to take into consideration that now the RA is in the field of new realities. In her word, Armenia’s accession to the EEU brings certain changes with it, and there is need of preparatory works. Mrs Naghdalyan recommended uniting the forces of Armenia, Artsakh and Diaspora in international platforms and expressing one united position. She has noted that it is necessary to pursue an initiatory policy.

The Speakers of the two parliaments summed up the results of the sitting at the joint press conference.