RA National Assembly speaker receives the delegation of the U.S. Congressmen.

On February 19 the RA National Assembly Speaker Samvel Nikoyan received the delegation of the US Congressmen, led by David Dreier, member of the Democratic Partnership Committee of the House of Representatives, Chairman of the House Rules Committee of the Congress.

Thanking the Congressmen for visiting Armenia and the National Assembly, Mr Nikoyan has noted that the visit is the best occasion to deepen the inter-parliamentary bilateral relations. In the NA Speaker’s word, from the first days of the independence the United States have been next to our state, have shown assistance in the humanitarian, state spheres, as well as in democracy. The NA Speaker especially underlined the effective cooperation with "Millennium Challenges" Corporation, as well as the collaboration in the humanitarian sphere. Only in this sphere the contribution of the United States has been about 1,8bn USD in the last 20 years, which, to Mr Nikoyan’s assessment, has been of essential importance for strengthening our state and independence. It was noted that the U.S. completely had been involved in the process of the solution of the most important problems pertaining to Armenia’s foreign policy, in particular, in the negotiations of the solution of the NKR problems as Minsk Group Co-Chair country. “As a parliamentarian, I would like the United States to have the same position, as they have in case of Kosovo, but by now we are satisfied with the approach what the U.S. has now,” Mr Nikoyan said.

The NA Speaker also welcomed the U.S. position and support that is shown in the Armenian-Turkish relations. In his word, the RA Speaker turned to decisive step, going forward to the settlement process of the relations. Mr Nikoyan has noted that the RA position, which is also defended by the international community and the USA, is distinct: establishment of diplomatic relations without preconditions and opening of borders, which stems from the interests of Armenia, as well as the region. But Turkey began to speak in the language of preconditions, and it became clear that this process would not have progress. The NA Speaker has said that the issue of the ratification of protocols is still underway on the agenda of the Armenian Parliament. “With that we pay our tribute to the international community, which made efforts in order to solve those issues,” Mr Nikoyan noted. According to him, it remains to hope that Turkey one day will realize that the peaceful co-existence with the neighbors is better than the harsh positions.

As the best example of cooperation the NA Speaker has noted the Armenian soldiers’ professional participation in the international peacekeeping forces, which shows that Armenia is not only a consumer of international peace, but it is also an active participant.

Thanking for the reception David Dreier first stressed the big role of the Armenian Americans that they have in the reinforcement of the Armenian-American relations. According to him, the US have always evaluated Armenia’s efforts in the establishment of democracy. In Mr Dreier’s word, one of the missions of the visit of their delegation, comprised of representatives of different parties, is to present the traditions of American democracy having 223-years of history. Noting about the Armenian-American already shaped close relations, Mr Dreier has informed Mr Nikoyan that one of their problems is also to discuss how to deepen the inter-parliamentary relations, support in the law-making works. “We want Armenia to be a free, vital and powerful state, where the role of the parliament is big as the establishing relationship with all layers,” Mr Dreier said. Touching upon the problem of the Armenian-Turkish relations’ settlement, the American Congressman noted that the establishment of the economic and trade ties could be a good path on the way of the formation of good neighborly relations. He said that he had personally said about this to high-ranking leadership of Turkey.

Congressmen J. Moran. Joe Wilson, Kenny Marchant and Adrian Smith, as well as the RA NA representatives also presented their views. They particularly highlighted the holding of upcoming parliamentary elections in accordance with international standards, the need of increase of the investments’ volume in Armenia, involving the Armenian American businessmen in that and the enlivening of the inter-parliamentary relations. Joe Wilson, representing South Carolina invited the RA parliamentary delegation to visit the United States.

The NA Speaker answered the Congressmen’s questions.