Situation in the Region Remains Tense and Vulnerable, Armenian MPs Inform Japanese Ambassador

Members of the Armenia-Japan friendship group in the National Assembly met on April 1 with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Japan to Armenia, Aoki Yutaka. This was reported by the Armenian National Assembly.

Welcoming the newly appointed ambassador in parliament, the leader of the Armenia-Japan friendship group, Babken Tunyan, congratulated Aoki Yutaka on his appointment to the responsible position. The MP expressed gratitude for the various forms of support that Japan has provided to Armenia thus far.

“This concerns not only financial, social, and technical assistance, but also Japan’s balanced position in the realm of foreign policy,” emphasized Babken Tunyan.

Discussing the current situation in the region, members of the friendship group noted that it continues to be tense and vulnerable. It was pointed out that Azerbaijan is still holding our compatriots captive, a significant part of the sovereign territory of Armenia remains under Azerbaijani control, and the belligerent rhetoric from Azerbaijan shows no sign of cessation.

Highlighting the necessity of establishing long-term peace in the region, the members of the friendship group stated that it is essential to have the support of partner countries, as well as targeted statements and actions to curb Azerbaijan’s potential aggression.

The MPs highly appreciated Japan's support for over 100,000 compatriots forcibly displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh. The possibilities for developing bilateral cooperation in various fields were discussed, and it was agreed that there exists unutilized potential in economic cooperation.

Expressing gratitude for the reception, the ambassador noted that Japan closely monitors the processes taking place in Armenia and the Armenian-Azerbaijani negotiations. According to Aoki Yutaka, Japan highly values Armenia's efforts to establish peace in the region and is ready to support them. Both parties concurred that both Japan and Armenia share common values, including democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.