On April 9, 2013 MP Deepak Obhrai, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and MP Chungsen Leung the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Multiculturalism attended the inauguration ceremony of His Excellency Serzh Sargsyan, President of the Republic of Armenia and conveyed congratulations on behalf of the Government of Canada. Mr. Obhrai presented a letter of congratulations from Prime Minister Stephen Harper to the President of Armenia, His Excellency Serzh Sargsyan.
In Yerevan, Canadian Parliamentarians met with the RA NA President Hovik Abrahamyan. Thanking for the warm hospitality Mr. Obhrai noted that they are impressed by the brilliantly organized solemn ceremony of assuming the Office of the RA President.
During the meeting, Mr. Abrahamyan expressed concern that the Chairman of Canada-Azerbaijan Friendship Group MP Barry Devolin is intending to submit for debate biased information on Khojalu cases in the House of Commons. “This is not the first case when the Azerbaijani Embassy, functioning in different countries, deliberately disorientates society, presenting distorting information on various events,” Hovik Abrahamyan said.
Mr. Obhrai has assured the NA President that they will certainly take into consideration Hovik Abrahamyan’s concern and has stressed that the stance of the Canadian authorities on the settlement of NKR conflict is unchangeable. In the course of the meeting other issues of bilateral interest were discussed.
The Canadian delegation led by Mr. Obhrai also met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. During his meeting with the Foreign Minister, issues of greater co-operation on trade, education, and culture were discussed. Also, security challenges in the region, namely Iran, Syria, and Turkey were mentioned. Both agreed to continue building on these relationships following Mr. Obhrai’s visit.
The Governmental Relations Office of the Diocese is satisfied with the visit of Canadian officials to the Republic of Armenia and hopes that the growing ties between Ottawa and Yerevan continue to strengthen and develop for the benefit of the two countries.
