STEPANAKERT. – The President of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR; Artsakh), Bako Sahakyan, on Thursday attended the opening of the first meeting of the 6th convocation NKR National Assembly (NA), and delivered welcoming remarks.

The President congratulated the attendees on the start of the activities of the new convocation NA, pointing out that the parliamentary elections held through free competition and complying with democratic principles lay an important foundation for the effective work of the new parliament.

Sahakyan expressed gratitude to the 5th convocation National Assembly deputies, adding that the previous NA had carried out quite comprehensive work in the legislative domain, playing a very visible role in the internal and external politics of Artsakh.

Speaking on the 6th convocation National Assembly, the NKR President stressed that a professional parliament will require a high-level accountability from each deputy.

“Expectations from the newly elected parliament first concern its lawmaking activity. We hope that a new impetus will be given to process of law elaboration, taking into consideration the track-record of developed countries and the peculiarities of our republic,” Sahakyan said.

The President also actualized the activity of the NKR NA in the development of interparliamentary ties, considering it among the most effective measures for establishing bilateral relations and international recognition of Artsakh.

“The effectiveness of the National Assembly’s activities is to a great extent derivative of a civilized, working climate based on mutual respect, which should be prevalent in the parliament,” Bako Sahakyan noted.

According to the President, the formation of such a climate is a component of political culture, and the NKR, being in a unique geopolitical situation, must do everything possible to acquire a high and exemplary political culture.