I am hopeful that the cooperation of two friendship groups will have substantive contribution in expansion and deepening of collaboration between the parliaments of Ireland and Armenia. I think that the dialogue between the legislative bodies is an important step in the development and implementation of bilateral agenda.
We can also add new layers and directions to this agenda, which I consider the most valuable one in the frameworks of the parliamentary friendship groups and parliamentary diplomacy activity: the deputy of Civil Contract Faction, the Head of the NA Armenia-Ireland Friendship Group Meri Galstyan during distant ceremony of the creation of Ireland-Armenia Friendship Group.
The Head of the Friendship Group highlighted the role of the mechanisms of the parliamentary cooperation between the two countries on different international inter-parliamentary platforms, as the OSCE, NATO, CoE Parliamentary Assemblies and on behalf of the RA NA expressed her gratitude to the Parliament of Ireland for supporting Armenia on the international platforms in its very difficult times. Regarding the situation created around our country, the MP noted that the crisis created on the borders of Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh is not solved yet, and the situation is regularly escalated because of provocations of Azerbaijan. “Armenia strives to take peaceful measures for weakening escalation and is faithful for solving the process exclusively through negotiations,” the Head of the Friendship Group Meri Galstyan said.
She highly appreciated the deployment of the EU long-term Observation Mission in the Republic of Armenia, which plays decisive role in ensuring the security and regional security.
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Welcoming the Armenian colleagues, the Head of the newly created Ireland-Armenia Friendship Group Patrick Costello highlighted the cooperation between the two countries and proposed to choose spheres, within the framework of which the relations will be developed.
“I think the formation of our Friendship Group and the cooperation with the Armenian colleagues will promote the establishment of peace and stability in the region,” he said.
Touching upon the reforms of our country, Meri Galstyan noted that despite all the existing challenges, Armenia is steadily moving forward with its democratic reform agenda, in a number of key directions, among which are the establishment of the rule of law, the fight against corruption, judicial and economic reforms, environmental protection and the agenda of combating climate change, which are also emphasized in the RA-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA). “I see a potential here in terms of creating a new platform for cooperation between our parliaments and let me propose adding the CEPA as a subject of discussion on the bilateral agenda of our upcoming meetings,” the deputy said.
The members of the NA Armenia-Ireland Friendship Group highlighted the effective inter-parliamentary cooperation, underlining that the friendship groups will make a significant contribution to the activation of cooperation and contacts between the legislative bodies of Armenia and Ireland. It was mentioned that such cooperation will give an opportunity to get acquainted with the ongoing processes in both countries, to organize discussions on regional and global challenges.
The Armenian parliamentarians presented the situation created around Armenia and Nagorno Karabakh. They highly valued the clear position of Ireland at the urgent meetings of the UN Security Council regarding the issues of vital importance for Armenia, in particular, the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor and the deepening humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh, the invasion of the sovereign territory of Armenia by the Azerbaijani forces.
According to the Irish MPs, they will apply in written form to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of their country regarding this issue.
The parties recorded that Armenia and Ireland have civilizational and cultural commonalities, tragic pages of history, the same Christian value system, and the existence of worldwide communities. The Irish partners attached importance to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and stated that it will help to prevent new genocides in the future.
The members of the NA Armenia-Ireland Friendship Group, the deputies of the Civil Contract Faction Maria Karapetyan, Vladimir Vardanyan and the deputy of the Armenia Faction Artur Khachatryan attended the meeting.
National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia