ARMENIAN OFFICIALS, BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY GROUP DISCUSS COOPERATION
Public Television of Armenia, Yerevan
18 Oct 04
Armenian Speaker Artur Bagdasaryan received a British parliamentary
delegation led by Gordon Marsden. Baroness Caroline Cox (the deputy
speaker of the British House of Lords) is also a member of the
delegation.
A wide range of issues of Armenian-British intergovernmental and
regional cooperation was discussed at the meeting. The sides stressed
the importance of (British) Links organization which is playing a
great role in the development of Armenian-British intergovernmental
relations. This organization creates great opportunities for
parliament members of three countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan and
Georgia) to meet regularly and discuss regional issues. It was
mentioned that the UK can support Armenia within the framework of the
programme Expanded Europe: New Neighbours.
The secretary of the National Security Council under the Armenian
president and the Armenian defence minister, Serzh Sarkisyan, also met
the members of the United Kingdom-Armenia friendship group led by
Gordon Marsden. He said that military cooperation between the two
countries is moving forward slowly but steadily. Sarkisyan said that
Armenia is ready to settle the Karabakh conflict peacefully and only
through compromises.
Speaking about Azerbaijan’s bellicose statements, Sarkisyan expressed
hope that Azerbaijan would change its tune and take a more reasonable
stance on the Karabakh problem as a new war in the region could have
irreparable harsh consequences.
(Video shows the meeting)