President of Swedish Riksdag Andreas Norlén, left, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan

Swedish Parliament President Visits Armenia

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YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan received on August 26 President of Swedish Riksdag Andreas Norlén, who was in Armenia at the invitation of Mirzoyan.

Greeting his colleague, Mirzoyan noted that he still has fresh impressions of his official visit to Sweden in June, during which he held a number of meetings that opened a new page of Armenian-Swedish bilateral relations. The Speaker of the National Assembly of Armenia added that it is a great honor to receive the delegation of his Swedish colleague.

Thanking for the warm reception, Andreas Norlén noted that the Swedish side greatly highlights its relations with Armenia. He expressed an opinion that the relations between the two countries have entered into a stage of rapid development with a very ambitious agenda.

According to the President of the National Assembly of Armenia, the sincere interest that Sweden shows towards the democratic transformations in Armenia following the velvet revolution is very evident, which is proved by the high level mutual visits, as well as the significant rise of the financial support provided by Sweden to Armenia.

Ararat Mirzoyan noted that Armenia is deeply interested in cooperation with Sweden in the spheres of IT, renewable energy, management of water and forest resources, management of mining waste, as well as other spheres of mutual interest.

The Head of the Swedish parliament again reaffirmed the readiness of the Swedish side to support the democratic changes in Armenia and the process aimed at establishing a stable free market.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Norlén later met for lunch.

Pashinyan and Norlen initially met privately, followed by an expanded format luncheon with members of the Swedish Parliament Speaker’s delegation, which included Deputy Speakers and leaders of all factions of the Swedish parliament, also known as the Riksdag.

Issues related to the agenda and development of the Armenia-Sweden relationship were discussed. Both bilateral and multilateral cooperation was discussed, including prospects of deepening ties within the framework of the European Union.

Pashinyan and the Swedish parliamentary delegation exchanged views over the ongoing reforms in Armenia in various sectors, strengthening of democracy and the development of the Armenia-EU relations.

The Swedish delegation then visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial, the Armenian Genocide Museum-Institute said on Facebook.

The delegation members were accompanied by Armenia’s Vice Speaker of Parliament Lena Nazaryan and Ambassador to Sweden Alexander Arzumanyan.

President of Swedish Riksdag Andreas Norlén visits the Armenian Genocide Museum and Monument.

Director of the Museum-Institute Harutyun Marutyan introduced the guests on the history of the construction of the Memorial and its meaning.

The Speaker of Swedish Riksdag laid a wreath at the Memorial. The delegation members laid flowers at the Eternal Flame and paid tribute to the memory of the innocent victims with a moment of silence. The delegation also visited the Armenian Genocide Museum, got acquainted with the exhibits and the details relating to the history of the Armenian Genocide.

At the end of the visit Norlén wrote in the guest book: “Thank you for helping us not to forget what should never be forgotten.”

The Swedish Parliament adopted a resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide on March 11, 2010.

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