Republican Party of Armenia

 On February 16 the RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan received the delegation led by the President of the Georgian Parliament David Usupashvili, who had arrived in Yerevan on an official visit.

Welcoming the guests, the RA NA Speaker expressed conviction that the official visit of the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament to Armenia would promote the strengthening of the inner-state relations between the two countries and especially, the inter-parliamentary cooperation. According to the NA Speaker, the Armenian-Georgian relations are built on a huge legacy, and happily that legacy is permanently growing. Galust Sahakyan has noted that the Armenian authorities have emphasized the development and the expansion of cooperation with Georgia since the first years of the restoration of independence. The NA Speaker has expressed conviction that in future the effective contacts between the two countries will continue and new ways for the rapprochement of various relations will be found. According to the Head of the Parliament, though in a series of international issues the two countries have different approaches in some aspects, however, for the regional security and strengthening of stability Armenia and Georgia are obliged to act united, trying to face the general challenges with joint efforts. With regards to this, Galust Sahakyan has considered necessary to further deepen the cooperation especially in the international parliamentary organizations.

The NA Speaker has informed that from March 16-18 the plenary session of the Euronest Inter-Parliamentary Assembly will be held in Yerevan and has noted that he expects the Georgian counterparts' active participation in the session.

Speaking about Armenia's membership to the EEU, the NA Speaker has informed that for Armenia it opens new trade-economic opportunities to the big market. “Today, a unique opportunity has been created for Armenia and Georgia. We have unprecedented conditions for making use of the Eurasian and European trade opportunities at the same time. Due to the political decisions and geographically favourable position of our countries an opportunity has been created for the producers of the two countries to have production in a friendly country and at the same time be represented in the European or Eurasian markets,” the Head of the Parliament has noted. According to Galust Sahakyan, Armenia’s membership to the EEU cannot impede in anyhow the development of the relations with the neighbouring friendly countries.

Touching upon the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh conflict the Head of the Parliament has noted that for more than 20 years the efforts of the international community for the fair and peaceful settlement of the conflict are brought to naught because of the destructive policy of Azerbaijan. According to the NA Speaker, an international decent assessment to the bellicose announcements and various threats voicing in Azerbaijan at the highest level is not given. The year 2015 has just begun, but Azerbaijan continues its adventurism permanently breaking the ceasefire regime and undertaking efforts of diverse penetration which are accompanied with casualties.

Talking about the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide Galust Sahakyan has deemed it a crime perpetrated against humanity, which alas, up to now has not been duly evaluated. The NA Speaker has expressed hope that in April 2015 the Georgian counterparts will take part in the events to the memory of the Armenian Genocide victims to be held in Yerevan.

The President of the Georgian Parliament David Usupashvili, thanking for the warm reception, highlighted the development and expansion of cooperation with Armenia as well. He has noted that the integration directions chosen by Armenia and Georgia shouldn’t impede the development of the two countries, on the contrary the two states should benefit from it for the sake of the two countries and nations. Mr. Usupashvili spotlighted the friendly relations in the region, underscoring that peace should be obtained not by war, but rather through peaceful negotiations.He expressed readiness to deepen the cooperation on parliamentary platforms. He also touched upon the Georgian Armenians' problems.

The President of the Georgian Parliament expressed his condolences on the tragedy occurred in Gyumri on January 12.

Touching upon the events on the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, David Usupashvili assured that on these days the delegation from the Georgian Parliament will be next to the Armenian people.

At the end of the meeting David Usupashvili left a note in the Book of the NA Honourable Guests.

The Presidents of the parliaments of both countries introduced details on the outcome of the meeting to the mess media representatives.

Accompanied by the NA President Galust Sahakyan David Usupashvili took a tour in the Session Hall, after which a tree planting ceremony took place in the Parliament Park. The planted tree symbolizes inter-parliamentary friendship between the two counties.