YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–The Armenian and Hellenic histories and the fates of both nations have much in common–and the problems existing today should be resolved through cooperative efforts–through mutual help–Armen Khachatrian–Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Foreign Relations Commission–said on October 4 when receiving Panayiotis Zografos–Ambassador of the Hellenic Republic to Armenia.
According to a National Assembly Public Relations Department report–Khachatrian highly appreciated the current level of the Armenian-Hellenic traditional relations–noting the importance of their further expansion and using all of the available opportunities to this effect.
Armen Khachatrian noted that Armenia is loyal to the principles of democracy–human rights protection–freedom of conscience and speech and the activities of the National Assembly are targeted at working out corresponding legal underpinnings.
The Chairman of the National Assembly Commission noted the European orientation–membership of the Council of Europe as priorities in Armenian foreign policy.
Khachatrian presented the exact position of the Armenian authorities on the Karabakh problem–noting that the settlement is possible only through peaceful negotiations.
According to the Ambassador–Greece welcomes Armenia’s intention to integrate into European structures and will further Armenia’s admission to the Council of Europe as far as possible. The Hellenic party does not deem the Karabakh problem to be an obstacle to Armenia’s membership in the Council of Europe and that it should be viewed separately–the Ambassador said. He stressed that among the three Transcaucasian states Armenia made the biggest progress in democratic reforms and human rights protection–as well as in other fields.
The meeting also discussed issues concerning the forthcoming summit of the OSCE.