Delegation headed by  RA NA President met with Vice-President of   Swiss Confederation

ArmInfo. The delegation, headed by the NA Speaker Ara Babloyan, met in Berne with the Vice-President of the Swiss Confederation Uli Maurer during the  official visit to Switzerland, the press service of Armenian  Parlament informed.

The delegation headed by the RA NA President Ara Babloyan comprised  of the RA NA Vice President Mikayel Melkumyan, the RA NA deputies  Armen Ashotyan, Armen Rustamyan, Gevorg Gorgisyan, Shushan Sardaryan  and Shirak Torosyan is on an official visit in Switzerland.  On  September 25, the RA NA President Ara Babloyan met with the President  of the National Council of the Swiss Confederation Dominique de  Buman.

Welcoming the Armenian parliamentarians, the President of the  National Council of Switzerland, expressed his gratitude for the warm  reception he enjoyed during his visit in Armenia in February of this  year.  Dominique de Buman welcomed the democratic processes happened  in our country, noting that they could be the best impetus for the  further development and prosperity of the country. "All that is  understandable for me, as Armenia is a country of culture and best  traditions," Dominique de Buman said.  Expressing his gratitude for  the invitation and warm reception, Ara Babloyan has stated that  Armenia greatly highlights the stability and continuity of the  relations with Switzerland, a political dialogue of high level is  formed, the inter-parliamentary relations, the cooperation of the  Friendship Groups are active, and there is an atmosphere of mutual  trust and mutual understanding. He expressed hope that this visit  would promote the further strengthening of the bilateral  inter-parliamentary relations.  "The friendship of the two countries'  peoples has a history of many centuries, Switzerland has always been  at the Armenian people's side in different situations," the Head of  the RA Parliament said, underlining as a proof the intermediary role  of Switzerland in the settlement of the Armenian-Turkish relations.   "In our meetings I have repeatedly noted that we have no problems  with the people of Turkey and Azerbaijan, we have a problem with the  heads, who cannot understand or assess the values that we share with  you. We should aspire to do everything to protect the developing  democracy and human rights in Armenia and in Artsakh," the President  of the RA National Assembly underscored. According to him, it is hard  to develop democracy and open doors to Europe in a region, where on  behalf of Turkey and Azerbaijan the authoritarian regime is  established.

Touching upon the events in Armenia, Ara Babloyan stressed that  Armenia once again succeeded surprising the world with its humanity,  tolerance and achievements of democracy. He expressed confidence that  regardless of the change of political forces, the Armenian-Swiss  relations would continue to develop with the same spirit.

The parties also touched upon the necessity of the activation of  bilateral economic ties, emphasized the cooperation, particularly in  the spheres of agriculture, science and tourism, within the framework  of the educational programmes.At the end of the meeting the RA NA President Ara Babloyan left a  note in the Book of Honourable Guests, in the Golden Book.  Afterwards, the RA parliamentary delegation took a tour in the  parliament, took part in the sitting of the National Council, during  which the Swiss legislators welcomed the Armenian  parliamentarians.