YEREVAN. – The president of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Galust Sahakyan, on Tuesday received a delegation from the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands.

Sahakyan expressed the hope that this visit will contribute to the strengthening of Armenian-Dutch friendship relations. The NA speaker noted that there is great potential for the development of Armenia-Netherlands relations. Galust Sahakyan also stated that political contacts between the two countries need to be developed.

In addition, the head of the Armenian parliament appreciated the Dutch balanced position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He also thanked the House of Representatives of the Netherlands for its April 9 decision, whereby Turkey is urged not to distort history in connection with the Armenian Genocide. Sahakyan noted that the international community will condemn the past genocides and prevent new massacres. In addition, the parliament leader informed the guests that the Armenian NA has launched a project of setting up international parliamentary committees against genocides.

In turn, the head of the Dutch parliamentary delegation, Harry van Bommel, characterized their visit to Armenia as historic, and added that this trip will become the start of cooperation between the parliaments of both countries. He noted that many members of their delegation have participated in the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations in the Netherlands. Van Bommel added that, on the same days, the Dutch parliament held debates on the recognition of the genocide. The head of the delegation stated that, as Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives of the Netherlands, they will always raise the matters with respect to Armenian Genocide recognition and the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.