Latvia and Armenia have active parliamentary cooperation. This is confirmed by the fact that the parliaments of both countries have established groups for interparliamentary relations with the other country, by successful exchange of high-level visits, including the official visit of Hovik Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly, in June of this year, as well as by study visits of Armenian MPs and parliamentary staff members to the Saeima. This was stated by Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, on Wednesday, 23 October, when she met with representatives of the Armenia–Latvia friendship group of the National Assembly of Armenia during her working visit to Armenia.
Both sides agreed that alongside successful political relations, Latvia and Armenia have to exploit the untapped potential for economic cooperation.
When discussing bilateral economic relations, Andrejs Klementjevs, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, informed his Armenian colleagues about Latvia’s strategic goal to introduce the euro on 1 January 2014; he also highlighted advantages of joining the euro area, which will be a solid foundation for Latvia’s further economic growth.
Sharing of experience was also discussed. Dana Reizniece-Ozola, member of the Legal Affairs Committee, called on Armenian MPs to use the cooperation and support instruments provided by the EU in order to broaden knowledge useful for implementing reforms and coming closer to EU values.
When visiting the Armenian parliament, the delegation of the Saeima congratulated its Armenian counterparts on the 2975th anniversary of their capital Erevan and expressed gratification that artists from Latvia were also invited to this significant jubilee.
At the end of the discussion, Deputy Speaker Lībiņa-Egnere presented the Armenian parliament with a special edition of the Constitution of the Republic of Latvia dedicated to its 90th anniversary and featuring translations of the Constitution into various languages.
From 21 to 25 October, Inese Lībiņa-Egnere, Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, is on a working visit to the Republic of Armenia. On her visit, the Deputy Speaker Lībiņa-Egnere is accompanied by Andrejs Klementjevs, her fellow Deputy Speaker of the Saeima, and Dana Reizniece-Ozola, member of the Legal Affairs Committee. During the visit, the delegation is also meeting with Hovik Abrahamyan, President of the National Assembly; Edward Nalbandian, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and His Holiness Garegin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
Photos are available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/saeima/sets/72157636831788775/
Saeima Press Service