Republican Party of Armenia

 On December 2 the RA NA President Galust Sahakyan received the delegation led by the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic Jan Hamáček.

Welcoming Jan Hamáček and the members of the delegation in the RA National Assembly, Galust Sahakyan highlighted the sustainable development of the friendly relations between Armenia and the Czech Republic. The RA NA President greeted the Armenian-Czech parliamentary contacts, emphasizing the development of the parliamentary diplomacy and the mutual visits. To Galust Sahakyan’s conviction, the positive traditions should have also an impact on strengthening the atmosphere of mutual assistance at international platforms.

The RA NA President has underlined with satisfaction the contribution of the Heads of the Parliamentary Friendship Groups of the two countries to the development of the relations. Galust Sahakyan spotlighted the adoption of the Resolution on the recognition of the Armenian Genocide by the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic.

The President of the National Assembly touched upon the events occurring in the Near East and expressed his concern about the threats to the ethnic and religious communities residing in the region.

According to the NA President, the MPs should raise their voice to condemn the events occurring in the Near East and the countries which encourage the terrorism and crimes.

Touching upon Armenia-EU cooperation, Galust Sahakyan has noted that the document elaborated as a result of negotiations to be held around the formation of the new legal basis of the relations with Armenia will outline the comprehensive cooperation, becoming the best guarantee of raising Armenia-EU relations.

Talking about the Nagorno Karabakh problem, the Head of the Parliament has documented that the settlement of the issue is one of the priorities of the RA foreign policy, and Armenia sees the solution of that issue exclusively through peaceful means under the auspice of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

Galust Sahakyan expressed his concern about non-constructive approaches of Azerbaijan, the unprecedented accumulation of the armament in the region and the growth of tension by the neighbouring country. The RA NA President stated: “The caviar diplomacy has become the state policy of Azerbaijan: the authorities of that country try to restore their discredited authority in the civilized world through mean way of bribery.”

In his remarks the RA NA President also touched upon the process of the Constitutional reforms going on in our country.

Thanking for the reception, the President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic Jan Hamáček presented the members of the delegation led by him, where representatives of all political forces of the Czech Republic are involved. Speaking about the Czech Republic-Armenia relations, Jan Hamáček has assured that throughout history those relations have not been at such high level: the mutual visits of the high-ranking officials witness to that. He especially highlighted the cooperation of the two countries in the sphere of economy, where there are many things to be done.

Referring to the events occurring in the Near East, Jan Hamáček expressed hope that the steps taken by the EU will change to certain extent the situation.

Regarding the EU-Armenia relations, he has noted that the EU cannot observe different states from the same viewpoint: the states don’t make decisions themselves, those decisions deserve respect, and cannot impede in any way the further development of the cooperation.

Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh issue, Jan Hamáček has noted that being a member of the Czech Republic-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group, he makes all efforts to indicate the importance of the solution of that problem through peaceful negotiations. He stated: “I always tell Baku that the solution of the problem should exclusively be through peaceful means, as any other solution is not admissible. Jan Hamáček has noted that if necessary, the Czech Republic can take part in the negotiations, making efforts for the peaceful settlement of the problem.

At the end of the meeting Galust Sahakyan and Jan Hamáček had a joint press conference and answered the journalists’ questions.

Afterwards the Heads of the parliaments planted fir-trees in the Park of the National Assembly as a token of friendship of the two countries.