ARMENIA REITERATES ITS WISH TO BECOME THE ASSOCIATIVE MEMBER OF THE EUROPEAN PEOPLE’S PARTY
ARMENPRESS
MAY 7, 2010
KARLOVY VARY
Armenia, on behalf of the Armenian Republican Party, reiterates
its wish to become the associative member of the European People’s
Party, Armenian Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan stated at the meeting
of the European People’s Party Group Bureau May 6 in Karlovy Vary
dedicated to the discussion of the "Eastern Partnership: Challenges
and Opportunities of the European Continent".
Armenian Prime Minister delivered an extended speech at the meeting.
President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek said that the Eastern
Partnership is a very important project for the EU. "I think that
we can assist the countries located in the eastern part. I am from
Poland, and I remember that such programs were very important for
our country. There will be programs which will assist the formation
of civil society, programs which will assist Armenia’s provinces,
regions," he said.
As to Armenia-Turkey relations, he noted that the two parties must
be open. "This is the issue which you must solve on your own. We will
ensure multi-sided assistance. I think the two sides are ready to solve
the existing issues, and the EU is ready to help in negotiations,"
Jerzy Buzek said.
As to Armenia’s associative membership to the European People’s
Party, according to the president of the European parliament, "it
is a very good idea as Armenia’s political system is very close to
the European democratic system. This is the difficult and right way
the European countries have passed and which Armenia is currently
passing. I think the European countries must assist Armenia on that
way," he pointed out.
The core of the discussion was Eastern Partnership challenges and
prospects, 2020 strategy of Europe, fighting against crimes, money
laundering, creation of working places.
The leadership of the European People’s Party, political figures of the
European countries and particularly Czech Republic were participating
in the meeting.
Founded as the Christian-Democratic Group on 23 June 1953 as a
political fraction in the Common Assembly of the European Coal and
Steel Community, the Group has always played a leading role in the
construction of Europe.
The Group changed its name to the Group of the European People’s Party
(Christian-Democratic Group) in July 1979, just after the first direct
elections to the European Parliament, and to the Group of the European
People’s Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats in July
1999. It changed its name back to the Group of the European People’s
Party" (Christian Democrats) in June 2009.
Currently EPP has 72 member-parties from 39 states and has 17
associative members.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
