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On November 10, the 28^th sitting of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee on Cooperation between the RA National Assembly and the RF Federal Assembly moderated by the Co-Chairs of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee Hermine Naghdalyan and Nikolay Ryzhkov was held in the National Assembly.

At the sitting, the RA NA Deputy Speaker, the Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee Hermine Naghdalyan made opening remarks. Welcoming the participants of the sitting, the NA Deputy Speaker has noted that the allied relations between the two countries are based on the centuries old friendly and good neighbourly traditions and today are at inter-state and political high level. He has added that the strategic cooperation of the two countries has risen to a new level since Armenia joined the Eurasian Economic Union.

Hermine Naghdalyan has noted that within cultural cooperation numerous programmes are implemented, thematic exhibitions are opened, joint concerts, theatrical performances are held, and intellectuals’ meetings are organized.

Talking about the development of another sphere, tourism, to be debated at today’s sitting Mrs Naghdalyan has noted that it is one of the prior directions of our economy: the Government of Armenia has initiated structural amendments, as a result of them, a certain Committee on tourism development was established. The tourism is based on the rich cultural heritage, rare and various nature, unique customs and traditions of our country. In recent period, considerable increase of the Russian tourists is noticeable.

“I am sure that all the upcoming debates and the proposals made will become a real stimulus in the solution of the problems facing us. Let me once again welcome everybody on the Armenian land and wish you effective cooperation for the welfare of Armenia and Russia,” ending her welcoming word noted Hermine Naghdalyan.

In his opening word the Co-Chair of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee Nikolay Ryzhkov has underlined that in the issue of the Armenian-Russian friendly relations the Inter-Parliamentary Committee has its unique contribution. He highlighted the detailed debate of the items included in the agenda, as they relate to the direct contacts between the people. Mr Ryzhkov noted that the two peoples had passed a long and hard path and until now they cooperate in different spheres.

Nikolay Ryzhkov also talked about the cultural events held in two countries, especially distinguishing the exhibition with the heading Armenia: Legend of Existence , where the Presidents of Armenia and Russia took part.

The problems of the development of the Armenian-Russian cultural cooperation and tourism were included in the agenda of the sitting.

The RA Deputy Minister of Culture Artur Poghosyan, the member of the RF Council of the Federation Committee on International Affairs Rafail Zinurov and the Head of the Work with the CIS and Compatriots of the International Cooperation Department of the RF Ministry of Culture Anton Nazarov presented the cultural cooperation vision and the existing problems between the two countries. It has been noted that the cooperation is carried out on the basis of the relevant Agreements, Memoranda and other documents. Rather active cooperation is formed in the spheres of museum work, book printing, theatrical art, music and film industry. Many creative meetings took place between the intellectual people of the two countries. The holding of the Days of Culture of Russia was highlighted, as well as during these days the events The Days of Saint Petersburg in Yerevan . In the context of boosting of cultural cooperation the young people’s participation has been emphasized, as the future of the Armenian-Russian relations is conditioned by them. The representative of the Russian side expressed readiness to add the quotas defined for the RA citizens in the high educational institutions functioning under the RF Ministry of Culture and touched upon the issues concerning the preservation of the Russian language, too.

The Acting Chair of the Tourism State Committee of the RA Ministry of Economic Development and Investments Zarmine Zeytuntsyan and the member of the RF Council of Federation Committee on the Federal Structure, Regional Policies, Local Self-Governance and Affairs of the North Igor Chernishenko in their speeches referred to the perspectives of the tourism development of the two countries and the possibilities of cooperation. It was proposed to organize cognitive visits of the skilled specialists, experts and journalists, exchange of experience, increase of tourism flow, participation of the Armenian and Russian tourist organizations to the international tourist exhibitions for boosting cooperation. The implementation of the programmes aimed at the tourism development between the RA and RF marzes and regions.

In the Q & A and speech format the members of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee and those responsible for the sphere participating in the sitting proposed to boost the Armenian-Russian cultural cooperation and tourism.

Other items relating to the work of the Committee were also discussed.

At the end of the sitting a decision was made to hold the next, 29^th sitting of the Inter-Parliamentary Committee in the RF Khanty-Mansiysk Region, at the beginning of June in 2017.