Friday, 10 June 2005
Today RA Minister of Territorial Administration Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan has received the delegation headed by Speaker of Parliament of the Republic of Lithuania Mr. Arthuras Paulauskas, who is in Armenia on a regional visit.
By stating the importance of activated high-level contacts between Armenia and Lithuania in terms of developing bilateral relationship, Mr. Hovik Abrahamyan expressed the hope that the present visit would promote this process. As an evidence of the dynamic development of the political dialog between the two countries, the Parties mentioned Prime Minister A. Margaryan's upcoming visit to Lithuania and Lithuanian President Valdas Adamcus's visit to Armenia, which were supposed to help both strengthen the Armenian-Lithuanian bilateral relationship and outline the prospects for regional cooperation between the South Caucasusian and Baltic States.
In noting that legislative harmonization with the European standards was a key element of the process of statehood building in Armenia, Minister Hovik Abrahamyan informed the Speaker of Lithuanian Parliament that a parliamentary ad hoc commission in charge of Armenia's integration to European structures and a working group had been established and about 90% of Armenia's commitments assumed before the European Parliament had been met already. Fundamental reform was underway in the system of local self-government and the judiciary with active efforts being made to amend the Constitution and the Election Code. Mr. Abrahamyan suggested considering the possibility of holding expert consultations to initiate the Armenian side into Lithuania's country experience of European integration. He reiterated Armenia's readiness for a more pro-active involvement in the EU-sponsored economic programs which, according to the Minister, would benefit overall development and conflict settlement in the region. Mr. Abrahamyan noted that, once signed, the agreement on economic cooperation between the governments of Armenia and Lithuania would provide a sound framework for the furtherance of the mutually advantageous bilateral collaboration in different fields of economy. He further said that Armenia could benefit much from drawing upon Lithuania's wealth of experience in attracting foreign investment and proposed the Lithuanian side to look into the possibility of investing into the Armenian economy.
The Speaker of the Lithuanian parliament, too, stressed the need in rehabilitating and developing the mutually beneficial relationship between our two countries in various spheres. According to him, it is the more so important today as Armenia has embarked upon the path of European integration and, therefore, we have much in common. On behalf of the Lithuanian authorities, he re-assured Mr. Abrahamyan of his country's readiness to share out Lithuania's experience of European integration and added that they were prepared to have the Armenian side acquainted not only with the achievements but also with the shortfalls in order to help their partners avoid them and carry on this process as efficiently as possible. As for the enhancement of the Armenian-Lithuanian trade relationship and direct business ties, the Speaker expressed his agreement with Mr. Abrahamyan and said to be hopeful that these issues would be taken up during RA Prime Minister A. Margaryan's forthcoming visit later in June.
In conclusion, the interlocutors expressed the hope that the establishment and development of such relationship as would match the new political and economic realities existing between the two countries would help restore and expand the former ties for the benefit of the two countries and peoples.
