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On September 24, the works of the formation of the Public Forum of the Armenian-Israeli cooperation began with the participation of the Chair of the RA NA Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, the Head of the RA-NA Armenia-Israel Friendship Group and the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset of the State of Israel, the Head of the Israel-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Tali Ploskov.

The Members of the RA NA Armenia-Israel Friendship Group Alexander Arzumanyan, Tevan Poghosyan and Khachatur Kokobelyan, as well as responsible Armenian and Israeli officials of different spheres, who should later coordinate the works of the development of cooperation in the given spheres, took part in the Forum.

Let us note that the idea of the formation of the Forum was born last year during the visit of the Delegation led by Artak Zakaryan to Israel. The Forum is a platform for the cooperation in different spheres of science, culture, technology, healthcare, tourism and business. It will function on permanent bases and voluntarily, regularly doing works in Israel, as well as in Armenia.

The main goal of the Forum to work out with the involvement of the concerned persons and implement joint programmes, business investments, opportunities of technological development, as well as different programmes of cultural dialogue, healthcare and science.

This initiative of the Armenian and Israeli parliaments can serve as a basis for advancing the development and strengthening of the ties between the Republic of Armenia and the State of Israel with their parliamentary, as well as public contacts and cooperation.

Let us inform that from the Armenian side the Head of the RA National Strategic Research Institute, Doctor of Political Sciences, General-Lieutenant Hayk Kotanjyan and from the Israeli side the former MP of the Israeli Knesset, Founder of Israel-Armenia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Alexander Tsinker presided over the Forum.

Opening the works of the Forum, Artak Zakaryan has noted that the goal of the Forum is to develop, strengthen and advance the whole potential in all the spheres, where it is possible to develop on mutual interests: business relations, cultural ties, cooperation in the healthcare sphere, implementation of the joint projects in technological and scientific spheres, as well as realization of the potential in the development of tourism and deepening and strengthening of cultural ties. In the name of the Friendship Group Artak Zakaryan expressed readiness to support the establishment and development of the Forum within the parliamentary authorities.

Welcoming the attendees, the Head of the Israel-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Tali Ploskov also highlighted the creation of such a Public Forum. Mrs Ploskov expressed her gratitude to the Head of the RA-NA Armenia-Israel Friendship Group for supporting the Forum. Wishing success to the works of the Forum, the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset expressed conviction that it will help the peoples of the two countries to know each other better in different directions.

The participants also talked about the necessity of having Yerevan-Tel Aviv direct flight and embassies, emphasized the exchange of experience and ideas in a number of spheres between the two countries, and in terms of the development of cooperation it was considered necessary also to get acquainted with the legislation, culture and national way of thinking of Armenia and Israel.

The Armenian MPs also spotlighted the holding of the Forum, noting that the two peoples and states have many commonalities, thus necessity of contacting with each other. In Alexander Arzumanyan’s opinion, through the Forum it is possible to implement popular diplomacy. Mr Arzumanyan expressed hope that the participants of the Forum will make all efforts not only activating the mutual relations in different spheres, but also to reach the message to their governments that it is necessary to raise the relations of the two friendly states at new diplomatic quality. Tevan Poghosyan considered necessary to develop the cooperation between the two countries also in the spheres of agriculture, construction, chemical industry and energy. The MP proposed to study the migration sphere and carry out a number of programmes in that direction. Khachatur Kokobelyan particularly highlighted the development and deepening of cooperation in the spheres of agriculture, healthcare and new technologies.

Talking about the Armenian Genocide recognition, the Head of the Israel-Armenia Parliamentary Friendship Group Tali Ploskov noted that she had always been for the Armenian Genocide recognition and she will continue to campaign for that issue in the Israeli Parliament, Mrs Ploskov has stated that the number of those who are for the Armenian Genocide recognition permanently grows in the Knesset. The representative of the Knesset considered a big success the fact that three months ago the Committee on Education of the Knesset officially recognized the fact of the Armenian Genocide.

Summing up the work of the Forum, on behalf of the RA NA Armenia-Israel Friendship Group Artak Zakaryan thanked Tali Ploskov and all the attendees for the participation and readiness to further cooperate, and wished successful work.