Republican Party of Armenia

 On October 12 the RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan received the President of the Republic of Serbia Tomislav Nikolić.

Welcoming the guest the RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan has stated with satisfaction that the Armenian-Serbian relations are based on centuries-old friendship, which witnesses the high ranking mutual visits during the recent period. He has expressed hope that the active contacts visible between the two countries will promote the progress of the Armenian-Serbian multi-lateral relations. In the aspect of the Armenian-Serbian relations, Mr Sahakyan has highlighted the active cooperation and mutual visits of the Friendship Groups functioning in the palriaments of the two countries.

Touching upon the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, the NA Speaker has underlined that the Armenian authorities seek to solve the NK conflict within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group which is the only format guaranteed by the international community. In this context, he has emphasized the strict maintenance of the ceasefire regime.
Reminding that in the coming year markes the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide, Galust Sahakyan has noted that Armenia continues to be consistent for the international recognition of the Genocide, as leaving such crimes agains humanity unpunished is the same as to allow its repetition.

The RA NA Speaker has emphasized the necessity of activating the cooperation and mutual contacts in the international structures in terms of getting acquainted with each other’s positions, which, to Mr Sahakyan’s conviction, will keep out of misunderstandings going on during voting.

The Head of the Parliament has spotlighted the development of the trade-economic relations and in connection with this he has noted with satisfaction that the Armenian-Serbian First Business Forum was held in March of this year. Mr Sahakyan has also considered necessary the enlivening of the Armenian-Serbian inter-cultural relations, which in his opinion, will promote the more strengthening of the two peoples’ friendship.

Thanking for the warm reception the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolić has underscored that he feels himself in Armenia almost in his native city, Belgrade. He has also highlighted the necessity of the rapprochement of the inter-parliamentary relations at all levels and the mutual visits of the Friendship Groups. Touching upon the NK conflict, he has stressed that the Artsakh problem should be settled within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group based on the Madrid principles. To his conviction, it is also necessary to develop the cooperation in the sphere of economy.

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

At the end of the meeting the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolić left a note in the NA Book of Honour, after which accompanied by the RA NA Speaker Galust Sahakyan took a tour in the building of the National Assembly and visited the Session Hall.