YEREVAN. – President of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, Ara Babloyan, on Friday received Lithuanian Ambassador Erikas Petrikas.

First, Babloyan lauded the current level of Armenia-Lithuania relations, the NA informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. Also, he thanked the ambassador of the first country to formally recognize Armenia’s independence in 1991, and underscored the fact of Lithuania’s recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

“Genocide recognition is a universal matter, especially now when the world is rocked by terrorist attacks,” Babloyan said, in particular.

Also, the Parliament speaker stated that  Armenia has chosen the path of democracy, and underscored the parliamentary diplomacy and friendship groups’ role in the development of relations. 

Petrikas, for his part, briefed Ara Babloyan on the achievements of his tenure as Lithuania’s ambassador to Armenia, and reflected on cooperation between the two countries.

Assessing Armenia as a model country along the lines of the Eastern Partnership program of the European Union (EU), Erikas Petrikas expressed the hope that the expected signing of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement will create new opportunities for cooperation between friendship countries.