YEREVAN, MAY 23, ARMENPRESS. Vice-Speaker of Armenia’s Parliament Eduard Sharmazanov on May 23 hosted Oleksandr Pavlyuk, Senior Political Counsellor at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), press service of the Parliament told Armenpress.

The guest congratulated Sharmazanov on re-election as Parliament’s Vice-Speaker and wished him productive work.

Eduard Sharmazanov welcomed Oleksandr Pavlyuk’s visit to Armenia. During the meeting issues of bilateral interest were discussed. The sides also discussed Armenia-EU relations, regional security affairs, the Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement, the recent parliamentary and Yerevan City Council elections in Armenia.

Vice-Speaker Sharmazanov attached importance to the development of Armenia’s relations with the EU and expressed hope the initialed Armenia-EU comprehensive and enhanced partnership agreement will be signed soon.

At the request of the guest, Sharmazanov presented the Nagorno Karabakh issue. He attached importance to the settlement of the conflict through peaceful discussions within the frames of the OSCE Minsk Group. In this context, he talked about Azerbaijan’s militaristic policy and said recently the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs issued an addressed statement criticizing Azerbaijan’s policy in connection with the ceasefire violations by the Azerbaijani forces and firing shots across the line of contact.

“In order to maintain peace and stability in the region Azerbaijan must recognize complete exercise of the Artsakh people’s right to self-determination: as long as Azerbaijan doesn’t recognize that right, the conflict cannot be settled”, Sharmazanov said. He emphasized that Azerbaijan refuses to implement the agreements reached at the Vienna and St. Petersburg summits after the April war and continues its militaristic policy.