YEREVAN. – Caviar diplomacy has become the state policy of Azerbaijan. President of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Galust Sahakyan, noted the abovementioned at his talk Friday with Ryszard Czarnecki, Vice Chairman of the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, and Vice-President of the European Parliament (EP).

The NA press service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am that Sahakyan also said the European Union (EU) was and still is one of Armenia’s important partners. He added that Armenia’s accession into the Eurasian Economic Union is due to geopolitical realities, and it is in the country’s interests.

The speaker of the Armenian parliament noted with delight that the EU Foreign Affairs Council on Monday authorized the European Commission and the High Representative to open negotiations on a new agreement with Armenia.

Galust Sahakyan stated that achieving a pacific settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a priority of Armenia’s foreign policy. He added, however, that Azerbaijan’s respective non-constructive approach is troublesome, and this results in the escalation of the tension and new casualties.

In addition, the parliament leader underscored NA-EP cooperation.

Czarnecki, for his part, noted that although this is his fourth visit to Armenia, as a Christian and as a person, he cannot forget his visit to the country during the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations, in April.

He also attached importance to expanding Armenia-EU relations and cooperation.

At the end of the talk, Galust Sahakyan awarded Ryszard Czarnecki with the Armenian National Assembly Medal of Honor, and in recognition of Czarnecki’s contribution to the strengthening of parliamentary friendship ties.