GYUMRI: Republic of Artsakh President, His Excellency Bako Sahakyan met Australia's House of Representatives Economics Committee Chair Mr. Tim Wilson and New South Wales Parliamentarian Dr. Hugh McDermott at formal Armenian Independence Day celebrations in Gyumri.

The members of the first Federal-led Australian Delegation to Armenia, organised by the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU), were welcomed by Mr. Sahakyan, as well as Republic of Artsakh Foreign Minister Mr. Masis Mayilyan, Member of Artsakh's National Assembly Mr. Davit Ishkhanyan, and Spokesperson for the President Mr. David Babayan.



Speaking with Mr. Wilson and Mr. McDermott, President Sahakyan reiterated the importance of recognition of Artsakh's right to self-determination, and the importance of ensuring the security of Artsakh against the threat neighbouring Azerbaijan poses to the very existence of the Armenian people.

The President thanked the delegation for the establishment of the Australian Friends of Artsakh, of which both Mr. Wilson and Mr. McDermott are inaugural signatories, and the efforts that have been made both in and outside of the Federal and State Parliaments towards the recognition of Artsakh’s right to self-determination.



Foreign Minister Mayilyan reiterated his gratitude to the Australian parliamentarians for their warm reception of the delegation from Artsakh he led in July 2019. Reciprocating the gesture, the Foreign Minister extended an invitation to the delegation to visit the Republic of Artsakh.

"Following the visit of Artsakh's delegation to Australia and the formation of the 47-strong Australian Friends of Artsakh network of prominent Australians, this meeting of Mr. Wilson and Mr. McDermott with President Sahakyan represents an important maturation of the growing Australian support for the rights to self-determination of the Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh," said ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian.