Good afternoon!

I am glad to welcome my counterpart - Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic Mr. Lubomír Zaorálek who is having an official visit to Armenia. This is not his first visit to Armenia, but this is the first time in the capacity of Foreign Minister that Mr. Zaorálek is in Yerevan.

We had numerous meetings. Our last meeting was two months ago, in April. This is a good opportunity to continue our discussions, and today during the negotiations we touched upon the rather intense agenda of bilateral relations, political dialogue, the development of cooperation in international organizations, legal framework as well as the enhancement of trade and commerce. We attached importance to the high-level mutual joint visits and the inter-parliamentary ties.

Recently the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia was in Prague and there were quite good negotiations in Prague, especially on the issue related to the deepening of economic cooperation.

The state visit of the Armenian President to Prague in 2014, was a turning point for our relations during which with the Czech President and senior leadership issues, related to the possibilities of deepening, more strengthening and developing of bilateral cooperation were discussed. Thus, today we can state with satisfaction that our relations are on a high level.

I would note with satisfaction that our Embassies conduct productive activities in the two capitals. Today we also officially will open the Czech Embassy in Armenia, which has been active for some time now. I would like to mention the work of our Ambassadors aimed at strengthening the bilateral relations.

We had an opportunity to touch upon the International as well as regional issues. I presented my colleague the efforts exerted by Armenia and OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs towards resolution of Nagorno-Karabakh issue.

Today we will have a possibility to continue the discussions during the working lunch which will follow our joint press conference and then we will be present at the opening ceremony of the Embassy of the Czech Republic.

Thank you! I will pass the floor with pleasure to my colleague. Please Lubomír.

Question: Mr. Nalbandian, there were numerous recognitions in the framework of Centenary of the Armenian Genocide. I would like to know your opinion whether this process will continue or not?

Edward Nalbandian: The 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide is a new stage, new beginning for this irreversible process. And this is distinctive as in various states and parliaments the recognition process is carried out with the participation and support of all political parties, represented in parliaments. In the list of the last recognitions I would like to mention as it was in Bolivia, Austria, Luxemburg and Brazil.

The statements done by the leaders of various states in this regard are highly commendable. In this case especially I would like to note the statement of the President of Germany. The statement of Charles Michel, the Prime Minister of Belgium is one of the latest ones which deserves high appreciation. I would like to emphasize once more that the recognition of the Armenian Genocide is an irreversible process.

Question: Mr. Nalbandian, recently in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe there was a discussion of the state of democracy in Azerbaijan where, to put it softly, there was an absurd wording on Karabakh. Of course, in the final document that wording was removed. How would you comment? Thank You!

Edward Nalbandian: I would say that Azerbaijan is ineffectively attempting to save its daily deteriorating, I would add the free falling international image in various International foras. Azerbaijan is trying to justify its authoritarian regime and the human rights violations by raising the existence of the Nagorno-Karabakh issue. The vivid example of this was the very attempt by Azerbaijan in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in the case of the above-mentioned resolution. But Azerbaijan failed on both matters. It is obvious that the use of Azerbaijani petrodollars is starting to cause nausea and a number of parliamentarians expressed their criticism and disagreement with that approach. I think it is time for Azerbaijan to return from its virtual oil-caviar world to the real one. This would be helpful for Azerbaijan in order not to end up in a greater isolation in the international community.