May 13, RA National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan received the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Mevlut Cavusoglu. Welcoming the guest, RA National Assembly Speaker congratulated him on being elected PACE President and expressed hope that his visit would contribute to strengthening the dialogue between the Armenia and the CoE.

Abrahamyan said that Armenia seeks to comply the ongoing reforms with the European standards, and as Speaker of the National Assembly he would do his utmost for their implementation. He highly assessed the considerable support by the Council of Europe in that direction, RA NA press service informed NEWS.am.

Cavusoglu noted that the parliament was performing its role through the standing and ad-hoc committees, at the same time considering important to continue the reforms and expressed willingness on behalf of PACE to assist and support the National Assembly.

Hovik Abrahamyan noted that Armenia was ready to perform the agreements and was a responsible partner.

Referring to setting up a sub-committee on Nagorno-Karabakh in PACE, Mevlut Cavusoglu said that it was not his initiative, stressing that it was on the agenda before his appointment. Nevertheless, even if the sub-committee is established it cannot duplicate the role of OSCE Minsk Group, it has not such a mandate.

Reaffirming the Karbakh issue within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group, Hovik Abrahamyan said that any mediation would impede the process. According to him, NKR status and Karabakhi people’s security are of great importance to Armenia. Stressing Armenia wishes to live with its neighbors in peace and solve all the problems peacefully, Abrahamyan said that Armenia-Turkey diplomatic relations should be established and the borders be opened without preconditions.

Cavusoglu emphasized that there was political will to regulate the relations, but the existence of difficulties should be admitted. He expressed hope that both sides wish to overcome those difficulties.

RA NA Speaker said that Armenia — Turkey relations’ normalization is rather complicated and sensitive process, and though it is suspended now, Armenia is ready to resume the process, if Turkey takes practical steps, and ratifies the Protocols.

In the course of the meeting, other issues of common interest were also discussed.

L.A.