Premier Fico Pays Tribute to Victims of Armenian Genocide in Yerevan

Yerevan, 27 May (TASR-correspondent) - Premier Robert Fico paid tribute to the victims of the Armenian genocide of 1915-18 in Yerevan on Tuesday. In the morning, Fico laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Memorial, known as Tsitsernakaberd. The memorial commemorates some 1.5 million victims of the genocide that took place between 1915 and 1918. The prime minister also planted a traditional peace tree at the site. He will conclude his official visit to Armenia by holding talks with Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturian. "I view it as correct to conclude this important visit with a meeting with the president. There is one more area, the military one, to which I paid great attention with the premier yesterday, but I would like to conclude it with the president," said Fico, adding that he will encourage Slovak Defence Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer-SD) to visit Armenia as well. The Slovak premier stated that his official visit to Armenia is proof that it is possible to pursue "policy in all cardinal directions". He also said that Slovak-Azerbaijani relations were not on the agenda of the talks with Armenian officials. "The two countries should be left to bring this serious matter to an end. I must congratulate both sides for getting this far in terms of a peace agreement," added Fico. Premier Robert Fico arrived in Armenia accompanied by a delegation of Slovak businessmen on Sunday (25 May) evening. On Monday (26 May), he participated in the ceremonial opening of a Yerevan Dialogue event in the Armenian capital. Later he held talks with Armenian Premier Nikol Pashinyan. The two premiers discussed the deepening of economic cooperation between the two countries, with Pashinyan accepting an invitation to visit Slovakia. ko/df