Friday, 11 December 2015
PM Receives European Democratic Students Organization Members
Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan received a delegation of the European Democratic Students Organization (EDS) representing 60 members from 20 countries. They are in Yerevan at the invitation of the youth wing of the RPA.
Welcoming the European students, the Prime Minister stressed the importance of such visits, because they enable a better understanding of Armenia and the Armenian people. Hovik Abrahamyan noted that our country highly appreciates the shared values based on close cooperation with the EPP.
According to the Prime Minister, the European vector remains high on Armenia’s foreign policy agenda. “We have repeatedly said that our cooperation with the EU is primarily based on common values, and we are committed to deepening and strengthening it in both multilateral and bilateral formats,” Hovik Abrahamyan said appreciating in this context the ongoing Brussels talks between Armenia and the European Union.
“We are confident that the new framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy will help us jointly develop new approaches to enhanced mutually beneficial cooperation and avoid new divides in the European continent,” the Premier said.
Talking about the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, Hovik Abrahamyan stressed that it is a tragedy for our people and a world-scale crime against humanity and civilization, and its inadequate condemnation may give rise to similar mass phenomena.
“We greatly appreciate the EPP Political Assembly-adopted “Armenian Genocide and European values” resolution, as well as the EPP’s contribution in the European Parliament’s endorsing a resolution condemning the Armenian Genocide,” the Head of Government said.
Referring to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, the Prime Minister said that its peaceful settlement is among the most important issues in our region. Hovik Abrahamyan stressed that due to Azerbaijan’s aggressive policy, not only has the peace process reached complete deadlock, but also there is a trend of escalation.
As the Prime Minister noted, in addition to a variety of provocative actions, Azerbaijan has already started to use large-caliber artillery, keeping under fire border region settlements in both Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh.
“Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh have always stood for confidence-building measures, such as strengthening of ceasefire, withdrawal of snipers, creation of a mechanism to investigate incidents at the contact line that are repeatedly undermined on the part of Azerbaijan, which ignores the joint statements made by the U.S., Russian and French Presidents and the OSCE Minsk Group efforts towards a peaceful settlement. That is why we are urging the international community to make targeted and not generalized statements on ceasefire violations,” Hovik Abrahamyan emphasized concluded.
The Prime Minister also touched upon the constitutional referendum, noting that the reform will result in an increased role of parliament and government, greater powers of the parliamentary minority and a growing role of society in decision making processes. New institutes are being introduced in the judiciary to ensure the independence of judges.
In conclusion, Hovik Abrahamyan answered the students’ questions, which related to his government’s priority programs, the strategy for economic development, the educational reform, regional issues and so on.
Highlighting the youth’s role in social, political and economic life, the Prime Minister said the Government will continue to back the implementation of various youth programs.
At the end of the meeting, the students thanked the Prime Minister for a warm reception and sincere dialogue.
