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The official visit of National Assembly Speaker Hovik Abrahamyan’s delegation to Switzerland continued on September 29.

According to NA press office, Hovik Abrahamyan’s first meeting was with Swiss Foreign Minister, newly elected Vice President of the Swiss Confederation Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey.

At the beginning of the meeting Hovik Abrahamyan congratulated Mrs. Calmy-Rey on election as Vice President of the Swiss Confederation on September 22.

The NA Speaker said that the Republic of Armenia attaches importance to comprehensive development of relations with Swiss Confederation, particularly, Switzerland’s mediatory mission in resolution of international problems. Hovik Abrahamyan stressed the role of Armenians of Switzerland in development of bilateral relations. He noted that the Armenian authorities appreciate Switzerland’s assistance aimed at implementation of socio-economic reforms in Armenia.

The Speaker stated that Armenia highly assesses Switzerland’s assistance to its initiative to normalize the Armenian-Turkish relations. Hovik Abrahamyan stressed that an agreement had been reached to establish relations with Turkey without preconditions but the Turkish party put forward preconditions unacceptable for Armenia.

The NA Speaker said that due to Turkey’s undue delay of ratification of protocols in reasonable term in parliament, President Serzh Sargsyan withdrew the protocols from the Armenian parliament agenda, however, he kept Armenian party’s signature under the protocols thus respecting mediators’ high authority.

According to the Swiss Foreign Minister, the process of Armenian-Turkish normalization cannot remain incomplete; active consultations proceed with the two parties at present to create favorable conditions to continue the process.

“Switzerland is resolute in pushing forward the process,” Mrs. Micheline Calmy-Rey said in conclusion. She highly assessed President Serzh Sargsyan’s step aimed at normalization of the Armenian-Turkish relations describing it as political courage.

The interlocutors also touched upon the Nagorno Karabakh settlement attaching importance to peaceful resolution of the problem through negotiations.

NA Speaker’s next meeting was with Speaker of the Swiss Council of States Mrs. Erika Forster-Vannini.

The NA Speaker expressed satisfaction with dynamic development of bilateral relations between the two countries, expansion of interparliamentary ties over the past years.

Mrs. Erika Forster-Vannini highly assessed NA Speaker’s visit to Switzerland aimed at promotion of cooperation in all spheres. She attached importance to further development of interparliamentary contacts, with Parliamentary Friendship Groups working efficiently.

Touching upon the Armenian-Turkish normalization the Speaker of the Swiss Council of States said her country will keep the mediatory mission aimed at normalization of the relations between Armenia and Turkey. She attached importance to establishment of security, peace, and stability in the region.

The interlocutors also addressed the process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict peaceful resolution, other issues of mutual interest.

The same day Hovik Abrahamyan’s delegation met with Speaker of the Swiss National Council Mrs. Pascale Bruderer Wyss.

The NA Speaker said that European integration is among Armenian foreign policy priorities. We realize that democracy is the strongest arms to resist the challenges we face. Armenia attaches importance to Swiss experience in implementation of reforms in our country, particularly, in the respect of strengthening democratic institutions and human rights.

Hovik Abrahamyan thanked the Swiss parliament for adopting a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide in December 2003.

Mrs. Pascale Bruderer Wyss stated Switzerland is interested in normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations and will do its utmost for the continuation of the process. Mrs. Wyss attached importance to peaceful resolution of the Nagorno Karabakh problem within OSCE Minsk Group. Hovik Abrahamyan stressed that Armenia also sees Nagorno Karabakh settlement in Minsk Group format only, and Azerbaijan’s periodical bellicose statements and violations of ceasefire hinder the conflict resolution and the negotiation process.

The parties attached importance to expansion of bilateral economic ties as there are all preconditions for development of cooperation in this sphere.