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On a working visit to the Italian Republic, President Serzh Sargsyan of Armenia later on Thursday met with Senate President Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati, the presidential press service reported.

Congratulating Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati on being elected to the high office of Senate President, the President of Armenia expressed the hope that the inter-parliamentary ties, which have long been on the agenda of the Armenian-Italian multifaceted relations, will continue to expand and strengthen thanks to Mrs. Casellati’s personal efforts.

Serzh Sargsyan highlighted the legislatures’ role in the promotion of interstate relations and an atmosphere of mutual trust and mutual understanding, noting that Armenia is eager to establish closer ties between the two parliaments and develop relations within the framework of inter-parliamentary assemblies which, according to the President, will allow Armenia and Italy to provide comprehensive and reciprocated support on important issues.

President Sargsyan thanked and highly appreciated the recognition of the Armenian Genocide on the part of Italy’s Parliament.

Stressing that the privileged Armenian-Italian relations are anchored on the two friendly nations’ historical affinities and shared Christian values, President Sargsyan noted with satisfaction that the interstate relations have been evolving in the spirit of partnership and mutual trust over the past quarter century, and the two countries have built up strong ties of cooperation in the fields of economy, defense, decentralized governance, inter-parliamentary and humanitarian exchanges. A vivid evidence of mutual respect and understanding between Armenia and Italy is the effective service of Armenian peacekeepers as part of the UN peacekeeping mission under the Italian command in Lebanon.

Reference was also made to EU-Armenia relations and cooperation as a key element of the Armenian-Italian cooperation agenda. Serzh Sargsyan and Maria Elisabetta Alberti Casellati exchanged views on the ongoing talks over the peaceful settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) conflict.