TIGRAN SARGSYAN: POLITICAL FIGURES SHOULD REMAIN FAITHFUL TO VALUES THEY ADOPTED

Noyan Tapan
March 4, 2010

YEREVAN, MARCH 4, NOYAN TAPAN. The presentation of the book "Europe: I
Struggle, I Overcome" by Wilfried Martens, Founder Member and President
of the European People’s Party (EPP) and former Prime Minister of
Belgium, took place at the Hall of Frescos of the National Picture
Gallery of Armenia on March 4. Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan
attended the presentation.

Prior to the presentation, T. Sargsyan had a conversation with W.

Martens and then he made an opening speech. Particularly he said:

"One important principle, to which I adhere and which Mr. Martens also
mentions in his book is that real life starts from the moment when we
realize that we are ready to bear responsibility for freedom. There
are three essential components in this idea: deep consciousness,
responsibility, and freedom. And these three components should exist
together. The political figures having this conviction can lead
their nations to prosperious life. The values mentioned in the book
and cherished by the author are important: these are the necessity
to protect freedom, equality, justice, solidarity, democracy, and
mutual understanding among representatives of different religions and
cultures. Angela Merkel expressed an interesting opinion about the book
by noting that the author’s life was dedicated to the indroduction
of these ideas, and he managed to unite people and reconcile them in
a Christian and democratic spirit".

Noting that political figures should remain faithful to the values
they adopted, T. Sargsyan said that tolerance and the ability to
reconcile people are the most important qualities of W. Martens who
often underlines this principle in his book. "I think that our regional
problems once again stress the necessity of this principle if we want
to ensure peace in the region and a prosperous and peaceful life for
all regional peoples. It is obvious that this important Christian
principle, according to which we should strive for cooperation and
reconciliation, proceeds from the interests of our nations".

Then W. Martens presented his vision of Europe based on Christian
values.

The RA Government Press and Information Department reports that
speeches were also made by the EU Ambassador to Armenia Raul de
Lutzenberger and the Chairperson of the RA National Assembly Standing
Committee on European Integration Naira Zohrabian.