Speech by RA NA President Alen Simonyan in the opening ceremony of at 10th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians of Inter-Parliamentary Union

Distinguished Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia,

Esteemed President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Esteemed Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union,

Excellences,

Dear colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, is one of the memorable days of history of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, memorable that for the first time in our country we are holding such a representational event of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, that is, the 10^th Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians, where 150 young parliamentarians from 60 member parliaments of the organization, associated members, experts, academicians and representatives from international organizations.

The idea of holding the Conference in Yerevan came three years ago during the meeting with the Secretary General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union Martin Chungong. A few years ago Martin Chungong he said "I say yes to youth in parliaments" initiative, to which joined the Speakers of and members of Parliaments of member countries, including myself.

I am proud to mention the fact that after 2018 velvet, non-violent, people's revolution today the young parliamentarians are the majority in the National Assembly of Armenia.

Moreover, according to the study done by the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the RA National Assembly is in the first place with its number of young parliamentarians.

This factor also played an important role in our decision of holding the Conference in Yerevan.

At this Conference the theme of the discussion will refer to the education and employment of the youth - the topics that never lose their importance.

Dear participants,

You, the young people should be ready to assume the leadership and actively participate in the development of your countries. Your knowledge and skills should become your most powerful tools for overcoming the difficulties. It is our duty is to support you in all possible ways. You have great potential to change the world, as you are more flexible and courageous than the previous generations. The history has shown that the natural competitiveness promotes the progress, and you have all possibilities to become leaders.

Dear participants,

During the coming two days, you, the young people of the world, will have an opportunity to have interesting and concerned discussions with each other on the matters important for you, to make new friends and get acquainted with our wonderful country and its residents. I am hopeful that this is not your last visit to the Republic of Armenia. We will always wait for you in our country.

I wish you peace, successes and all the best.

Thank you for your attention.