YEREVAN. - Armenia’s Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan delivered a speech at 89th NATO Parliamentary Assembly (PA) Rose-Roth Seminar.

In his speech, Sahakyan attached great importance to Armenia’s cooperation with the European institutions: “We intend to develop active and efficient ties with NATO. Armenian parliament is committed to implement the legislative reforms process aimed at harmonizing the legislation of our country with the European and international standards.”

Sahakyan also noted that the Armenian parliament continues to develop the efficient and transparent legislative supervision of the defense sphere. According to him, Armenia attaches great importance to its participation in NATO’s peacekeeping operations.

“The 35-member subdivision of Armenia’s Military Forces peacekeeping brigade continues to take part in Kosovo forces (KFOR) operation under the command of the United States. Since January 2015, 121-member troops of Armenian Military Forces continue to participate in the defense of Kabul’s Camp Kasaba military settlement and Camp Marmel in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan.” 

Armenia’s Parliament Speaker also said that Rose-Roth seminars have been carried out in Armenia’s capital Yerevan for 2 times, in 2005 and 2010.

“The main objective of Rose-Roth initiative is to strengthen the parliamentary democracy of Central and Eastern European countries. The topic of today’s seminar is dedicated to the security and stability in South Caucasus, as well as contribution to long-lasting peace in the region,” he said.

“Armenia firmly believes in the values of liberty, peace and cooperation and is sure that the development of international cooperation and dialogue, as well as proposal of common benefits and mutually beneficial solutions can greatly contribute to overcoming the regional conflicts and dividing lines.”  

Referring to Karabakh conflict, Sahakyan said: “As to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, we believe that its settlement must be based on the recognition and implementation of the right of self-determination of Karabakh people, in compliance with the norms and principles of international law. 

We are for the peaceful settlement of that conflict and it is our strong conviction that it should be settled by negotiations, which are carried out through the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs.

The expansion of the regional cooperation will also be fostered by the normalization of relations between Armenia and Turkey, which we consider without preconditions and in the context of establishing mutually beneficial cooperation. This was reflected in the Armenian-Turkish protocols on the establishment of diplomatic relations and development of bilateral relations, which weren’t ratified because of the preconditions advanced by the Turkish side.”