RA National Assembly Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan met with the delegation led by Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielus Landsbergis.
Welcoming the Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan stated that Lithuania was the first to recognize Armenia’s independence, and in 2005 to recognize the Armenian Genocide. He praised the visit of the Lithuanian Foreign Minister to the Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day, which is taking place in the conditions of the coronavirus. This fact, according to the NA President, proves the high level of relations between the two countries.
The Speaker of the Parliament referred to the Turkish-Azerbaijani aggression unleashed against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) and the non-fulfillment of the obligations of the trilateral statement on the ceasefire by Azerbaijan. Mirzoyan noted that Azerbaijan violates point 9 of the tripartite statement, refuses to return Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees, initiating artificial criminal cases against them.
The NA Speaker added that the Nagorno-Karabakh problem is not solved until the right of free self-determination of the Artsakh Armenians is realized, it is necessary to continue the negotiations in this direction within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairing.
Ararat Mirzoyan praised the principled position of a group of Lithuanian MPs, calling on Azerbaijan to speed up the exchange of bodies, prisoners of war and hostages and their return.
Expressing gratitude for the reception, the Lithuanian Foreign Minister noted that this year marks the 30-th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. He stressed that despite the difficult situation created as a result of the Pandemic, Armenia remains committed to the values of democracy and expressed readiness to support the reform agenda on behalf of Lithuania.
Referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, he said that Azerbaijan is obliged to return Armenian prisoners of war and other detainees, as well as to refrain from destroying the Armenian cultural heritage if it wishes to engage in a constructive dialogue.
During the meeting, the parties discussed the agenda of Armenia’s sectoral reforms, issues related to the participation of organizational and international observation missions in the snap parliamentary elections in June.
