On December 15, Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Ara Babloyan received Minister of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia Hranush Hakobyan and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Terence-Nikolaos Quick.

Greeting the guest in parliament, Ara Babloyan touched upon the centuries-old friendship between the Greek and Armenian nations and the common history. The parliamentary speaker expressed gratitude to the Greeks for providing shelters to Armenian migrants having escaped the Armenian Genocide and for recognizing the Armenian Genocide and passing resolutions condemning denial of the Armenian Genocide later. The parliamentary speaker also addressed the strengthening of the current relations between Greece and Armenia and expansion of spheres of cooperation.

Ara Babloyan attached importance to the role of parliamentary diplomacy in the deepening of relations and addressed the need to strengthen the cooperation of the parliamentary delegations of the two countries within international organizations. The Speaker of the National Assembly also addressed the events that took place at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation and expressed his concern about the position on the Armenian delegation.

Addressing the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, Ara Babloyan stated that the Agreement will boost the process for reforms taking place in Armenia for the strengthening of democratic institutions, human rights protection and the rule of law, which will strengthen the cooperation between Armenia and the European Union.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Terence-Nikolaos Quick expressed gratitude for the reception and addressed the huge role that the Armenian community of Greece plays in the public and political life of Greece. Addressing the current conflicts in the world, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed Greece’s position on the resolution of those conflicts through negotiations. Terence-Nikolaos Quick also addressed parliamentary diplomacy, emphasizing the importance of the deepening of cooperation between parliaments and mutually beneficial partnership at international platforms. Mr. Quick suggested considering the opportunity for a trilateral meeting of the parliamentary speakers of Greece, Armenia and Cyprus. The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece attached importance once again to the signing of the memorandum of mutual understanding between the Ministry of Diaspora of the Republic of Armenia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Greece on Diaspora-related issues that was signed today.

At the end of the meeting, Quick wished the Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia success in making the transition to the system of parliamentary governance.