On October 13, Deputy Speaker of the RA National Assembly Edward Sharmazanov, who is in Geneva on a working visit, had a meeting with Member of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Cyprus Marios Garoian and Member of the House of Representatives, head of the Cypriot Delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union Averof Neofitou during the 131^st Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, reports the news center of the National Assembly.

The NA Deputy Speaker mentioned that Armenia and Cyprus are linked by their rich historical heritage, spiritual values, as well as the confidence and mutual understanding established between the Armenian and Cypriot nations.

Edward Sharmazanov highly appreciated Marios Garoian’s contributions to the strengthening and development of the Armenian-Cypriot friendly relations, especially during his term as President of the Parliament of Cyprus.

The NA Deputy Speaker attached great importance to the close collaboration and mutual support of the parliaments of both countries within different regional and international organizations. Sharmazanov noted that Cyprus is one of the EU-member states with which Armenia has close and friendly relations-something that provides Armenia with the opportunity to rely on Cyprus’s support, particularly in the solution to issues of reciprocal interest within the parliamentary assemblies of the Council of Europe, the OSCE, NATO and BSEC.

Edward Sharmazanov also touched upon the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Cypriot issue, noting that Armenia and Cyprus share the same positions on these issues. The NA Deputy Speaker viewed Turkey’s occupation of a part of Cyprus and the blockade against Armenia as inadmissible.

Talking about the need for international recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide, Edward Sharmazanov mentioned with gratitude that the Parliament of Cyprus is one of the first countries to recognize the Armenian Genocide and invited Marios Garoian to Yerevan to participate in the events to be held on the occasion of the Centennial of the Armenian Genocide.

The NA Deputy Speaker suggested that Marios Garoian and Averof Neofitou hold an exhibition dedicated to the Armenian Genocide at the Parliament of Cyprus, and the Cypriot side gave its consent.