PRESIDENT OF CZECH SENATE HAS NO DISAGREEMENT WITH ARMENIAN COLLEAGUES

Noyan Tapan

Se p 12, 2008

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 12, NOYAN TAPAN. There is no serious disagreement
between Armenian and Czech political figures, the president of the
Czech Senate Premysl Sobotka, who is on an official visit to Yerevan,
stated at the end of his meeting with the speaker of the RA National
Assembly Tigran Torosian on September 12. In his words, the sides
are unanimous in their opinion that international problems should be
solved in a political rather than military way and that the borders
of any sovereign state are inviolable.

P. Sobotka said that an agreement has been reached to deepen
relations, in particular – parliamentary links, between the two
countries. According to him, the sides arranged to complete the
development of a bilateral agreement which will become a good legal
basis for activities of Armenian and Czech businessmen. The sides
have also come to an agreement to create favorable conditions for
businessmen, particularly, for making Armenia more open to Czech
businessmen.

Responding to questions of reporters, P. Sobotka explained that when
speaking about the inviolability of borders, he meant the recent events
in Georgia. In his words, the borders of states were changed under
certain historic conditions, but what happened recently in Georgia
is inadmissible as the Russian army invaded the Georgian territory
and stopped not far from Tbilisi. He noted that he expresses not only
his personal opinion but also the agreed position of EU countries.

In addition to his Czech counterpart’s words, T. Torosian stated that
the principle of inviolability of borders is one of the principles
of the Helsinki Final Act and must be respected by all OSCE member
states. However, the principle of non-use of force and the principle
of self-determination of nations (important for the Armenian side)
must be respected as well.

The president of the Czech Senate said that the Soviet Union forcedly
united various nations into a state, creating strange conditions for
their existence. "I was quite glad that in 1992 Chechia got rid of
the influence of the Soviet Union and I react with the same joy to
the fact of independence of other countries, particularly Armenia,"
P. Sobotka stated.

According to T. Torosian, this is the second visit of his Czech
counterpart to Armenia this year. P. Sobotka first came to our country
on April 9 to attend the inauguration ceremony of the newly elected
president of the RA.

The agreement to promote parliamentary links between two countries
was reached at that time. In the words of the NA speaker, the Czech
Republic may play a serious role in Armenia’s relations with the EU. It
is noteworthy that the Czech Republic will assume the presidency of
the EU in January 2009.

P. Sobotka said that he had also met with the president and the prime
minister of Armenia.