Wednesday, 2 December 2015
PM Welcomes President of Czech Parliament Chamber of Deputies
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received a delegation headed by Jan Hamáček, President of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Parliament.
Welcoming the guests, the Prime Minister praised the ongoing cooperation between Armenia and the Czech Republic, highlighting the need for developing multifaceted relationship between the two countries in all spheres of mutual interest.
The Premier described as quite effective his latest official visit to the Czech Republic in June, 2015, noting that reciprocated top-level visits can evidence that bilateral relations are on the upgrade and a high-level political dialogue is maintained between Armenia and the Czech Republic. Hovik Abrahamyan noted the importance of active inter-parliamentary cooperation and parliamentary diplomacy in promoting bilateral relations.
Thankful for the reception, Jan Hamáček said to be highly honored with his stay in friendly Armenia and took the opportunity to introduce the members of his delegation, which comprised representatives from all political forces. Pleased with the current pace of bilateral cooperation, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic stressed that the Armenian-Czech relations have never been at such a high level, and the reciprocated official visits provide a strong evidence of it.
Coming down to economic ties, the parties said much had yet to be done in this field. They stressed the need to tap the existing potential and boost trade turnover. In this context, both sides concurred in that business forums should be held more frequently in order to outline new possibilities and areas of cooperation. They looked at issues related to the two countries’ involvement in integration processes and regional developments.
Prime Minister Abrahamyan said Armenia continued to actively cooperate and implement joint programs with the European Union in all areas of mutual interest following its accession to the Eurasian Economic Union.
In this connection, Jan Hamáček pointed out that joining an integration association is any nation’s sovereign right and should be respected. As to the furtherance of relations with the EU, he said each country should be treated on an individual basis. He assured that as an EU-member State, the Czech Republic was ready to promote the development of relations between Armenia and the EU as much as possible.
The meeting also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Noting that the conflict should be settled peacefully, Hovik Abrahamyan hailed the balanced approach of the Czech Republic in this matter, which is in tune with the common position of the OSCE Minsk Group and the EU. Jan Hamáček stressed that as a member of the Azerbaijan-Czech Republic parliamentary group of friendship, he has always stressed the importance of the peaceful settlement of the conflict.
Hovik Abrahamyan noted that Armenia highly appreciates the participation of delegations representing the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic in the Armenian Genocide 100th anniversary commemorations, and thanked the Chamber of Deputies Foreign Affairs Committee of the Czech Republic for adoption of a resolution on the Armenian Genocide.
The parties emphasized that the Armenian community in the Czech Republic had a key role to play in the strengthening of the Armenian-Czech interaction. The Premier thanked the Czech authorities and the Archbishop of Prague, Cardinal Dominik Duka, for their decision of October 14, 2015 to hand over the Prague Church of the Holy Spirit to the St. Gregory the Illuminator parish community of the Armenian Apostolic Church.
