YEREVAN. – Armenian National Assembly (NA) Speaker Galust Sahakyan on Monday received a delegation led by Danilo Astori, the Uruguay Vice President and Speaker of the Chamber of Senators. First, Sahakyan congratulated Astori for being reelected and wished him fruitful work.

Subsequently, the NA leader noted that Armenia-Uruguay relations are anchored in mutual respect, trust, and historical friendship. He also underscored the Armenian President’s recent visit to Uruguay, and expressed the hope that Astori’s visit to Armenia will contribute to making interparliamentary relations grow deeper.

Recalling that, in 1965, Uruguay had formally recognized the Armenian Genocide, Sahakyan also highly praised the decision to found a genocide museum in the Uruguayan capital city of Montevideo.

In addition, Galust Sahakyan pointed to the need for a quick and pacific resolution to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In this connection, he expressed the hope that Armenia will receive Uruguay’s assistance in counteracting to Azerbaijan’s anti-Armenian actions.

Furthermore, the Armenian parliament leader underscored the high level of Armenian-Uruguayan cooperation within international organizations.

Danilo Astori, for his part, likewise expressed the hope that his visit to Armenia will be a god opportunity to deepen bilateral relations. In his words, the new Government of Uruguay also seeks to develop relations with Armenia. He added that the two friendship countries have much in common.

Astori noted that the memory of the victims of the Armenian Genocide will always be kept alive in Uruguay, since everything must be done to prevent a recurrence of this tragedy.

The Uruguay vice president also stated that his country will always support the OSCE Minsk Group efforts to achieve a peaceful settlement of the Karabakh conflict.

He, too, stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy and friendship groups.

Afterwards, the Armenian parliament chairman awarded the Uruguay vice president with the NA Medal of Honor.

At the end of the talk, Danilo Astori signed the National Assembly guestbook.