YEREVAN, MARCH 29, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan who is in Malta on a working visit attended the congress of the European People’s Party. As “Armenpress” was informed from the press service of the Armenian President’s Office, the congress was presided over by EPP President Joseph Daul. The congress was also attended by the Presidents of the European Council and European Commission Donald Tusk and Jean-Claude Juncker, Heads of state and government of the EU and Eastern Partnership countries, whose parties are also members to the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Leader of the Nationalist Party of Malta Simon Busuttil.

Issues of pan-European importance will be the focus of the delegates of the two-day congress. Political debates on “Europe’s future” theme takes a significant place in the agenda of the congress. A reference will be made also to issues of European Neighborhood, developments in the Eastern Partnership and current international issues.

President Sargsyan gave a speech during the plenary session of the first day of the congress, touching upon Armenia-EU relations and cooperation, new opportunities and prospects for the expansion and deepening of bilateral partnership, the upcoming parliamentary elections in Armenia as a key point on Armenia’s path to democracy, the missions and issues of the great European family.

In his speech President Sargsyan expressed gratitude to Joseph Daul for the invitation and wished success to the Leader of the Nationalist Party of Malta Simon Busuttil in the future parliamentary elections.

“I am pleased to record that this year started very actively from the perspective of Armenia-EU relations. A really historical event took place in late February. I together with President Tusk heralded in Brussels the completion of the talks on the new legal document coordinating our bilateral relations, the Comprehensive and expanded partnership agreement, while just a week ago we initialed it. We plan to sign this key document during the upcoming Eastern Partnership summit”, Serzh Sargsyan said, adding that following its entrance into force a new page in Armenia-EU relations will be opened.

According to President Sargsyan, Armenia-EU partnership is a success case, a model of a successful partnership. “Armenia demonstrated by its own experience that it’s possible to combine different integration processes by taking and giving each side something positive and useful, which unite the states instead of dividing”, he said.

Referring to the parliamentary elections to take place in a few days in Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan stressed that this is a key point in Armenia’s path to democracy following the Constitutional changes. “Considering the development features of our country, we have tasked us to make a confident step towards the European model of democracy building and further strengthening of democratic institutions. We are committed and spare no efforts to hold elections meeting the high international standards. We have invited all appropriate international organizations, the OSCE/ODIHR, PACE, European Parliament, OSCE and CIS Parliamentary Assemblies to observe the elections”, President Sargsyan said, thanking the European Union and the EPP for standing with Armenia in the decisive processes for Armenia.

“A few days ago the Europeans solemnly celebrated the 60th anniversary of the Rome Treaty, which created the necessary conditions for the current welfare and sustainable development of the citizens of Europe. Armenians attentively follow these jubilee events, as well as the discussions going in parallel. The history of the European Union is first of all an example of overcoming problems together, overcoming disagreements and finally achieving success jointly”, the Armenian president said, expressing conviction that the EU will be able to overcome the problems and challenges facing it in the current phase of its development, continuing its unique mission of ensuring peace, stability and development which will bring benefits to both the European peoples and the friends of Europe.