Republican Party of Armenia

 On October 6 within the framework of the official visit to Georgia the delegation headed by the RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan met with the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Georgia David Usupashvili.

Highly assessing the friendly relations of the two countries, the mutually beneficial cooperation, the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament expressed confidence that the centuries old friendship of the two countries would be more strengthened. David Usupashvili noted that the format of cooperation of the two parliaments from now on also would be extended and the cooperation would deepen. He highlighted the development of cooperation of the two countries in the private sector. Touching upon the regional problems David Usupashvili has ensured that the Georgian authorities are for the peaceful settlement of the disagreements. The Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia emphasized the preservation and deepening of good neighbourly relations between the two neighbour countries.

Thanking for the invitation and warm reception the NA Speaker of the Republic of Armenia Galust Sahakyan has highly assessed the inter-state relations with Georgia, expressing confidence that the Armenian-Georgian relations are at high level. Galust Sahakyan has spotlighted the role of the inter-parliamentary ties in the development of inter-state relations. The RA NA Speaker has noted that since gaining independence the relations between the two countries have reached to high level, which is a stable basis for dynamic development of mutually beneficial cooperation. In this context, he has highlighted the activity of the Committees of parliamentary cooperation. The RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan in his speech has also noted that Armenia and Georgia have chosen different ways of international political integration. However, similar approaches cannot impede the further contacts and relations of the two countries, but to certain extent they will positively reflect not only on mutually inter-state relations, but also on the development of partnership and mutually beneficial cooperation. Talking about cooperation in the cultural sphere Galust Sahakyan has noted that it has always been at the centre of attention, and it is natural, as the cultural ties of the two peoples and the historically formed common value system serve as a basis for the development of further cooperation. In that context the RA NA Speaker has drawn the Georgian side’s attention to the problems of preservation of Armenian cultural heritage on the territory of Georgia, and particularly, has underlined that it is necessary to take urgent steps for restoration and conservation of Mughni Saint Gevorg, Saint Nshan and Saint Norashen churches. Galust Sahakyan has touched upon one more problem, the phenomenon of banning the entry of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia to the territory of Georgia. In his word, complaints have been received by the RA some citizens that in the Armenian-Georgian border checkpoints the entry of the latter to the Georgian territory has been banned by the Georgian border guards.

In response to the RA NA Speaker's observation, the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia has expressed regret concerning similar incidents and has expressed hope that the matter will be settled.

In the course of the meeting Galust Sahakyan has noted that in 2015 will be the centennial of the Armenian Genocide. He invited the Georgian MPs to take part in the events dedicated to the memory of the Genocide victims to be held in Yerevan in April. He has expressed hope that the Parliament of Georgia will adequately refer to that crime perpetrated against humanity. “The condemnation and recognition of the genocide of is great importance in preventing crimes against humanity,” the RA NA Speaker has noted.

In the course of the meeting the sides touched upon other issues of bilateral interest.

At the end of the meeting the RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan has taken a note in the Book of Honour of the Parliament of the Republic of Georgia.

On the same day, on October 5, the RA NA Delegation headed by Galust Sahakyan met with the Catholicos-Patriarch of All Georgia Ilia II.

Thanking for the reception, the RA NA Speaker has mentioned that inter-cultural relations have always been at the centre of attention. And it is natural, as the cultural ties of the two peoples and the historically formed common value system serve as a basis for the development of further cooperation. In this context the RA NA Speaker has drawn the attention of the Catholicos-Patriarch Ilia II to the problems of preservation of the Armenian cultural heritage on the territory of Georgia, considering necessary to take urgent steps for restoration and conservation of Mughni Saint Gevorg, Saint Nshan and Saint Norashen churches. Galust Sahakyan has also expressed concern related to the events taking place in Middle East, noting that because of events occurring in Syria and Iraq the whole Eastern Christian cicilization is endangered.

The Catholicos-Patriarch has welcomed the guests and has noted that despite the historical hard past, the Armenian and Georgian nations have been able to create cultural monuments. Regarding the abovementioned churches, the Catholicos has noted that Armenia and Georgia are Christian oases, adding that the two nations will succeed to fairly solve the problems. Touching upon the events occurring in Syria and Iraq, the Georgian Catholicos-Patriarch has deemed them more than dangerous.

Then the Delegation headed by the RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan met with the Foreign Minister of Georgia Maia Panjikidze.