YEREVAN. - Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly (NA) Ara Babloyan on Thursday met with US Ambassador Richard Mills.

Welcoming the Ambassador, Ara Babloyan expressed hope that such meetings will be continuous. The Speaker stressed that for Armenia the US is a friendly country and one of its key partners, occupying a key position in the political and economic life of the country.

Attaching importance to the role of parliamentary diplomacy in bilateral relations, Mr Babloyan considered it necessary to enhance the mutual visits and ties between the parliamentarians.

Referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Speaker attached importance to the continuous efforts of the US as an OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing state towards the resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and insurance of peace and stability in the region.

“I feel pain every time we have victims. The life of each man is the highest value for me and it doesn’t matter on which side these youths die,” the Speaker said.

Thanking for the warm welcome, Richard Mills, for his part, praised the humane position of Ara Babloyan. The Ambassador assured that the new US administration continues to adhere to the commitment of participating in the Minsk Group process.

Mills noted that pluralism will be key to the meaningful debates reflecting the hopes and dreams, concerns and challenges of Armenian citizens in the parliamentary platform of Armenia. He also expressed readiness to support Mr Babloyan’s and his partners efforts towards the activities aimed at increasing trust and enhancing the bilateral ties between the two nations.

The interlocutors also expressed satisfaction with the fact that during these years the Armenian-American cooperation has developed in different areas.

Apart from this, at the meeting, reference was made to the parliamentary administration system and steps implemented for the development of democracy and fight against corruption.