Armenpress News Agency , Armenia Tuesday Armenian defense minister meets with President of Cyprus YEREVAN, MAY 30, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s Defense minister Vigen Sargsyan had a meeting on May 30 – the second day of his official visit – with President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades. The Cypriot president welcomed that Armenian delegation and expressed conviction that it will boost the enhancing of Armenian-Cypriot cooperation, which is anchored on centuries long friendship. Vigen Sargsyan thanked for the warm reception and briefed President Anastasiades on the details of his talks with Cyprus’ defense minister, and mentioned the directions where the defense ministries of the two countries can cooperate. The Cypriot president appreciated the role of the Armenian community, which has harmoniously integrated itself into the public life of Cyprus, at the same time preserving its culture, language and religious identity. At the request of the Armenian Defense Minister, President Anastasiades presented the latest developments over the Cyprus issue. The Nagorno Karabakh conflict was also discussed during the meeting. Vigen Sargsyan thanked the Cypriot President for the constructive and consistent stance in the Artsakh issue. The sides both agreed that great potential exists for the development of partnership between the two countries, which must be used. On the same day, minister Sargsyan had a meeting with Demetris Syllouris, president of Cyprus’ Parliament. Syllouris welcomed Sargsyan’s delegation and highlighted the visit, mentioning that historical friendly ties must be enriched with practical steps too. Mentioning the 2015 Armenian Constitutional changes referendum, Vigen Sargsyan notified that Armenia is transitioning to a parliamentary administration system, where the role of the Parliament will drastically increase. In this context, according to Sargsyan, cooperation of inter-parliamentary groups are even more highlighted, as well as partnership of parliamentary delegations in international platforms, which will make resisting common political challenges more effective through joint efforts. Issues related to both the Cypriot and Artsakhi conflicts were also discussed. Later on the same day, Vigen Sargsyan also met with Cyprus’ foreign minister Ioannis Kasoulides. The Cypriot FM mentioned the ages long friendship of the two peoples as an important prerequisite for deepening the Armenian-Cypriot partnership. Kasoulides also highlighted the Armenian community’s factor, which has fully integrated itself into the social-political life of Cyprus, by preserving its national identity. According to the Cypriot FM, defense minister Sargsyan’s visit can be a powerful signal for deepening the Armenian-Cypriot relations, namely in the defense sector. Ioannis Kasoulides recalled his Armenia visits with warmth. The Armenian defense minister thanked for the warm reception of the Cypriot side and presented the details of his talks. Sargsyan mentioned that modern challenges force to combine powers for effectively resisting them. According to Sargsyan, the formation of new tension hotbeds, is inadmissible and is fraught with unpredictable consequences. In this context, according to the minister, the combination of efforts of countries having common interests is being more emphasized and the development of effective dialogue. The Artsakh and Cyprus conflicts were also discussed. In the Cypriot FM’s belief, it is wrong to draw parallels between these two issues, because unlike Northern Cyprus, which is occupied by Turkey, Artsakh is the historic land of Armenians, they have always lived there, fought for their security and declared independence. Vigen Sargsyan thanked the Cypriot FM for the clear and consistent stance in the NK conflict, and mentioned that it is extremely important for Armenia.