YEREVAN. – An Armenian National Assembly (NA) delegation, led by NA Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan, arrived in Brazil Monday on an official visit. 

The delegation was invited by President Henrique Eduardo Alves of the Chamber of Deputies of Brazil.

In São Paulo, the parliamentary delegation visited the Armenian Consulate in Brazil, informs the NA press service. In addition, Abrahamyan awarded Honorary Consul Hilda Diruhi Burmaian the NA Medal of Honor, and in recognition of her great contribution to the strengthening of Armenian-Brazilian ties.  

At the Armenian club in São Paulo, the NA leader met with representatives of the city’s Armenian community. Abrahamyan spoke about Armenia’s domestic political situation and its foreign policy priorities, and he underscored Armenia-Diaspora cooperation.     

Next, the Armenian parliament head visited the local chapter of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, where several matters were discussed with members of the Armenian organizations functioning in Brazil.  

In São Paulo, the Armenian NA delegation members also visited the Saint Gregory Armenian Apostolic Church, and they laid a wreath and placed flowers to the Armenian Genocide monument.  

Hovik Abrahamyan also met with Mayor Fernando Haddad of São Paulo.

Haddad underscored the Armenian parliamentary delegation’s visit to Brazil, and highly appreciated the local Armenian community’s contribution to the development of São Paulo. Furthermore, the mayor expressed willingness to cover the tuition fees of those Brazilian-Armenian students that wish to receive education at the institutions of higher education of Armenia.   

In turn, the NA speaker noted that relations between Brazil and Armenia are on a solid footing, and he thanked the mayor of São Paulo for the warm attitude towards the local Armenian community. Hovik Abrahamyan also noted the fact that São Paulo and Armenia’s capital city Yerevan are declared sister cities.     

The interlocutors also recorded that a significant role is given to interparliamentary ties.