Thursday, May 6 2021 22:52

ArmInfo.On May 6, the RA NA President Ararat Mirzoyan received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern  Ireland to the RA John Gallagher, the press service of the Armenian  Parliament informs.

Welcoming the guest, Ararat Mirzoyan congratulated him on being  appointed Ambassador in our country and expressed confidence that  during Gallagher's tenure the Armenian-British relations would be  more strengthened.

"We are concerned about expanding and deepening the relations with  the United Kingdom and we highlight the role of the National Assembly  in this dialogue," Ararat Mirzoyan noted.

The Head of Parliament considered important the support of the United  Kingdom in the development of different spheres in our country. "As  NA Speaker I evaluate the participation of the United Kingdom in the  UN programme 'Modern Parliament for a Modern Armenia,' where concrete  and tangible results have been recorded."

Touching upon the cooperation between the parliaments, the Head of  the legislative body expressed hope that in parallel with overcoming  the pandemic the contacts between the Friendship Groups would more  activate.  Taking the advantage, the NA Speaker invited the members  of the Friendship Group of the Parliament of the United Kingdom with  our country to Armenia.    "Last year our country confronted with a bigger calamity, than the  pandemic. Azerbaijan with obvious support of Turkey began war against  the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh, during that period committing  military crimes, targeting the civilian population and the  infrastructures. As a result, ceasefire regime was established, but  until nowadays Azerbaijan continues violating the norms of the  international humanitarian law, the provisions of the Geneva  Convention - not releasing the Armenian prisoners of war. This is an  extremely urgent problem for us, and all our international  colleagues, being led by humanitarian aspirations, should immediately  intervene to this issue," the NA President underlined.

Mirzoyan expressed concern about the specific barbaric attitude  towards the Armenian monuments in the territories appeared under the  control of Azerbaijan. "Unfortunately, Azerbaijan continues the  evident Armenophobic policy and the aggressive statements, and its  vivid example is the opening of the park by the president of  Azerbaijan in Baku." According to the Head of Parliament, the warrant  of ensuring the security of Artsakh is the recognition of its  self-determination.  Regarding the final solution of the conflict,  according to Mirzoyan, it is possible to reach it through peaceful  negotiations in the format of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship.   The Ambassador has noted that the United Kingdom is interested in  preserving stable peace in the region.  During the meeting the snap  parliamentary elections to be scheduled on June 20 was also referred  to. The NA President assured that the authorities would make all  efforts for holding elections complying with the international  highest standards.