YEREVAN. – Within the framework of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly events in Uzbekistan, speaker Alen Simonyan of the Republic of Armenia National Assembly (RA NA) on Thursday met with speaker Tanzila Narbaeva of the Senate of Olij Mazhlis of Uzbekistan.

The sides documented that Armenia and Uzbekistan consistently develop the political dialogue, at the same time stressing that the potential of cooperation is not fully used, thus there is need for making additional efforts, the NA informs Armenian News-NEWS.am. In the interlocutors’ opinion, the key role of bilateral relations belongs to the parliamentary cooperation.

“The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia highlights the development of cooperation with the colleagues of the parliament of Uzbekistan, as in bilateral format, so in the international parliamentary structures, which can be effective in terms of the systemized approach of voting and mutual support of the parliamentarians of both sides in the international arena,” Alen Simonyan noted.

The colleagues highly appreciated the role of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assembly as an important platform dialogue and collaboration of parliaments.

The RA NA President touched upon the manifestation of the Azerbaijani aggression in Armenia on September 13 and the events following it. He noted that Azerbaijan denies withdrawing its armed forces from the sovereign territory of the Republic of Armenia and returning prisoners of war, hostages and other held persons. “We are resolute in building peace in our region. We actively work with our international colleagues, and we hope that the Republic of Uzbekistan will also remain part of it,” Alen Simonyan concluded.

At the meeting a reference in detail was made to the Armenian community. According to the last data, about 80,000 reside there. The Armenians mainly are concentrated in the cities of Tashkent (50,000) and Samarkand (25,000).

The city of Samarkand as a crossroad of cultures, was inspiring our compatriot, Armenian impressionist and the People’s Artist of the Uzbek SSR Hovhannes Ter-Tadevosyan. In Samarkand he created more than 400 art works. “I would like to mention with pride the role of Hovhannes Ter-Tadevosyan in the formation of fine arts of Uzbekistan at the beginning of the 20th century. He took part in the creation of the Union of Artists and founded Association of Fine Arts Workers,” Alen Simonyan underlined.

The Head of the Parliament of Uzbekistan requested Alen Simonyan to share advanced experience of our country in the World Trade Organization and in the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).

At the end of the meeting the sides conveyed invitations of official mutual visits to each other.