CHAIRMAN OF RA NA COMMITTEE ON DEFENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO COOPERATION BETWEEN ARMENIAN AND CZECH PARLIAMENTS

Noyan Tapan
Jun 20 2006

YEREVAN, JUNE 20, NOYAN TAPAN. On June 20, members of RA National
Assembly Standing Committee on Defence, National Security and Internal
Affairs met with the delegation of Czech Republic Senate’s Committee
on Foreign Relations, Defence and Security.

Committee Chairman Aramayis Grigorian gave assurance that the visit
is an important step in development of Armenian-Czech relations. He
attached importance to cooperation between the parliaments, respective
committees of the two countries. Cooperation at international
organizations, in particular, within the framework of CE and
Euroatlantic Alliance, Czech Republic’s experience in the issue of
integration to European structures and exchange of experience in the
legislative field was considered to be important. Aramayis Grigorian
presented the Committee’s activity, the current level of Armenia-NATO
relations.

In cooperation with NATO he attached importance to cooperation in
the spheres of defence reforms, fighting terrorism, perfection of
the legal field.

A.Grigorian mentioned that Armenia has joined the planning and
reconsideration process of the Partnership for Peace, as well as the
agreement On the Status of the Armed Forces of NATO – Partnership
for Peace.

Rostislav Slavotinek, Vice-Chairman of Czech Senate’s Committee on
Foreign Relations, Defence and Security, gave assurance that the visit
will promote friendship and cooperation between the two countries. In
the sphere of interparliamentary cooperation he attached importance
to cooperation at the level of the committees. R.Slavotinek briefly
presented the structure of the Czech parliament, the Committee’s
functions, spheres, touched upon the peculiarities of the Czech
army, reforms in the police system. It was mentioned that the Czech
parliament consists of two Chambers – the Chamber of Deputies and
the Senate. The Senate is formed by the principle of majoritarian
electoral system, it consists of 81 deputies. The Czech army has
been professional since January 1 2005, it has about 30 thousand
servicemen. Czech Republic is a member to NATO and takes an active
part in the programs of NATO. Slavotinek mentioned that a Military
University having a high qualification works in Czech Republic and
proposed that the Armenian side send officers to study there.

As Noyan Tapan was informed from RA NA Public Relations Department,
at the meeting the sides touched upon issues of regional cooperation,
attached importance to activization of parliamentary cooperation. Other
issues of bilateral interest were also discussed, the directions of
future cooperation were outlined.

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress