YEREVAN. – Armenia’s National Assembly (NA) Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan on Tuesday received a delegation, which is led by speaker Jorge Orrico of the House of Representatives of Uruguay, and which is in Armenia on an official visit. 

Abrahamyan noted that the Armenian-Uruguayan ties are warm and they need to develop further. He underscored the legal and contractual framework between the two countries and pointed to the necessity to expand it, NA press service informs.

Also, he highlighted the importance of such high-level visits and the activities by the parliamentary friendship groups. As vivid example of bilateral friendship, Hovik Abrahamyan noted the Armenian Genocide’s recognition by Uruguay in 1965. In addition, he highly appreciated Uruguayan FM Luis Almagro Lemes’ view with respect to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. As per Lemes, “Nagorno-Karabakh is tied to Armenia. Its independence, or joining Armenia, is the best way.”      

In his turn, Jorge Orrico gave a high assessment to the friendly ties between both countries and underscored the consolidation of relations. He, too, pointed to the need to strengthen interparliamentary ties. Also, he highly appreciated the Uruguayan-Armenians’ role in Uruguay’s development. “By coming to Armenia, we feel like we are at home,” he added. In his words the two peoples are united by their past. Furthermore, Orrico expressed a hope that the bilateral contacts will become more frequent.  

Subsequently, NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan presented the Ramil Safarov case and considered it to be an unethical step that was taken for political objectives. He spoke about the Armenian authorities’ respective measures and the international community’s condemning reaction. Reflecting on the Nagorno-Karabakh peace talks, Abrahamyan noted that the Armenian party believes this conflict must be resolved solely within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group. Hovik Abrahamyan reflected on the Armenian-Turkish relations, too.   
In his turn, and with respect to the Safarov case, Jorge Orrico noted that Uruguay deplores what has transpired. “We condemn all those actions that are crimes,” he said. 

At the end of the meeting, Armenian Parliament chairman Hovik Abrahamyan awarded speaker Jorge Orrico of the House of Representatives of Uruguay with the NA Medal of Honor for his contribution to the strengthening of ties and developing of interstate relations with Armenia. Also, the Uruguay House of Representatives’ Uruguay-Armenia Interparliamentary Friendship Group member Rubén Martínez was presented the NA Certificate of Honor.