YEREVAN. – National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov on Thursday received Lithuania’s newly appointed Ambassador to Armenia, Erikas Petrikas.

They discussed the avenues for the development of ties and the parliamentary cooperation between the two countries, the NA press service informs. 

Reflecting on the balanced foreign policy of Armenia, the NA vice-chair and Armenia-Lithuania Parliamentary Friendship Group leader assured that European integration continues to be one of Armenia’s priorities. Sharmazanov expressed a hope that Lithuania, as an EU member—and, most recently, as its chairing country—will assist Armenia on its road to European integration.   

He also briefed the Lithuanian ambassador on Armenia’s policy geared toward regional security. He spoke about the country’s efforts to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict solely through peace talks and the inadmissibility of the Turkish policy of imposing a blockade against Armenia.      

In his turn, Ambassador Petrikas gave a high evaluation to Armenia’s policy, and he noted that the Lithuanian authorities support the country’s efforts to resolve the abovementioned conflict through peace talks. He also saluted Armenia’s consistency in European integration and in implementing democratic reforms, and he assured that Lithuania stands ready to assist Armenia in surmounting the difficulties on this road.         

In addition, Eduard Sharmazanov and Erikas Petrikas discussed other matters of mutual interest.