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07
03, 2012
Serzh Sargsyan, who is the Kingdom of Belgium on a working visit, was hosted at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
President Serzh Sargsyan, who is the Kingdom of Belgium on a working visit, in the evening of March 6, was hosted at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, where he made a statement and answered questions from the audience.
The President spoke about works conducted in our country and forthcoming programs with the European structures, aimed at the rapprochement with Europe and noted that after regaining independence the Republic of Armenia had chosen the European model of development.
Stating that that choice of the Armenian people was quite natural, Serzh Sargsyan in his statement made a small excursus to the history, noting that the Armenian nation is gradually rediscovering its democratic traditions which have centuries-long roots. The President of Armenia recalled that back in 1860, in Western Armenia, which was under the authoritarian rule of the Ottoman Empire, adopted was the “Vorogayt Parayts” - National Constitution. Some years later, as a result of the pressure from the European powers, it was agreed to by the Sultan as well.
The Constitution envisaged formation of the representative bodies of the Western Armenians through the general and secret elections. Needless to say that the Ottoman authorities didn’t put up with that progressive breakthrough by the Armenians and at the first opportunity terminated the effect of that Constitution. Serzh Sargsyan also reminded how ended the clash of the Armenian progressive thinking and the appalling Ottoman reality; it is well known to anyone familiar with the world history.
According to Serzh Sargsyan, policies of rapprochement with Europe are not only an axis of internal reforms, but also a pivot of the foreign policy agenda. “We attach importance to the EU’s involvement In Armenia and South Caucasus not only because EU is a global player, but first of all because it is the best model of nations’ peaceful, secure and sustainable development. Our vision of the South Caucasus’s full-fledged development is anchored in the values and understanding which made possible Europe’s success. I am confident that we can have a secure and developing region exclusively through a common system of values. Our region really needs enrooting of the understanding of common values, development of the security agenda and formation of an integrated economy, particularly considering peculiarities of our region and multiplicity of the existing challenges.
Today, I can state with confidence that Armenia is close to Europe and the European system of values not only in the sense of state-building but also because of our performance – a reliable partner in both regional and international context. Armenia advocates resolution of all existing problems through political negotiations, consensus, and respect for the positions of all parties, through peaceful means. We are ready to do our best to prevent catastrophic developments, dangerous confrontations, creation of new dividing lines and have proved with our actions the seriousness of our intentions,” the President of Armenia said.
Serzh Sargsyan spoke also about the regional problems and challenges, the NK peace process, and the Armenian-Turkish relations.
At the conclusion of his presentation, President Sargsyan underlined that regardless of the problems and challenges present in the region, Armenia has decisively chosen a truly democratic way of state-building. “We are striving to build a country where the human rights are duly respected, a country where the judicial and court system is genuinely independent, a country which promotes equal competition in the political and economic fields, and most importantly, a country where democracy is not just a form but also the content. This is the only way to have a developed country and prosperous nation, and we are determined to achieve that goal, “the President of Armenia said.
Today, President Sargsyan continues his working visit to Belgium. In the framework of the visit, this morning Serzh Sargsyan held meetings with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schultz and President of the European People’s Party Wilfried Martens. He is also to meet with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, Stefan Fule.
The President spoke about works conducted in our country and forthcoming programs with the European structures, aimed at the rapprochement with Europe and noted that after regaining independence the Republic of Armenia had chosen the European model of development.
Stating that that choice of the Armenian people was quite natural, Serzh Sargsyan in his statement made a small excursus to the history, noting that the Armenian nation is gradually rediscovering its democratic traditions which have centuries-long roots. The President of Armenia recalled that back in 1860, in Western Armenia, which was under the authoritarian rule of the Ottoman Empire, adopted was the “Vorogayt Parayts” - National Constitution. Some years later, as a result of the pressure from the European powers, it was agreed to by the Sultan as well.
The Constitution envisaged formation of the representative bodies of the Western Armenians through the general and secret elections. Needless to say that the Ottoman authorities didn’t put up with that progressive breakthrough by the Armenians and at the first opportunity terminated the effect of that Constitution. Serzh Sargsyan also reminded how ended the clash of the Armenian progressive thinking and the appalling Ottoman reality; it is well known to anyone familiar with the world history.
According to Serzh Sargsyan, policies of rapprochement with Europe are not only an axis of internal reforms, but also a pivot of the foreign policy agenda. “We attach importance to the EU’s involvement In Armenia and South Caucasus not only because EU is a global player, but first of all because it is the best model of nations’ peaceful, secure and sustainable development. Our vision of the South Caucasus’s full-fledged development is anchored in the values and understanding which made possible Europe’s success. I am confident that we can have a secure and developing region exclusively through a common system of values. Our region really needs enrooting of the understanding of common values, development of the security agenda and formation of an integrated economy, particularly considering peculiarities of our region and multiplicity of the existing challenges.
Today, I can state with confidence that Armenia is close to Europe and the European system of values not only in the sense of state-building but also because of our performance – a reliable partner in both regional and international context. Armenia advocates resolution of all existing problems through political negotiations, consensus, and respect for the positions of all parties, through peaceful means. We are ready to do our best to prevent catastrophic developments, dangerous confrontations, creation of new dividing lines and have proved with our actions the seriousness of our intentions,” the President of Armenia said.
Serzh Sargsyan spoke also about the regional problems and challenges, the NK peace process, and the Armenian-Turkish relations.
At the conclusion of his presentation, President Sargsyan underlined that regardless of the problems and challenges present in the region, Armenia has decisively chosen a truly democratic way of state-building. “We are striving to build a country where the human rights are duly respected, a country where the judicial and court system is genuinely independent, a country which promotes equal competition in the political and economic fields, and most importantly, a country where democracy is not just a form but also the content. This is the only way to have a developed country and prosperous nation, and we are determined to achieve that goal, “the President of Armenia said.
Today, President Sargsyan continues his working visit to Belgium. In the framework of the visit, this morning Serzh Sargsyan held meetings with the President of the European Parliament Martin Schultz and President of the European People’s Party Wilfried Martens. He is also to meet with the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, Stefan Fule.