Armenian president hosts European students

Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on Friday received council members from the pan-European student organization European Democratic Students, reports the presidential press service.

The young guests are in Yerevan upon the ruling Republican Party’s youth body’s invitation to attend the assembly “New Governance Models in Eastern Partnership Countries”.

Welcoming the representatives of Europe’s biggest youth organization, the president said he hopes that the event in Yerevan will be very effective in terms of enabling the participants to develop knowledge of Armenia’s historical-cultural heritage and acquire new friends to later foster a close cooperation among the young people in member countries and contribute to future development. The president highlighted the importance of dialogue with the youth, describing meetings of the kind as a good opportunity for getting familiarized with the participants’ forward-looking ideas and understanding of future.

“By communicating with the youth in Armenia, you will make sure that your organization’s liberal views and mission to spread democratic values are not alien to the Armenians. You will see, after all, that the Armenian society does, in large part, share the same values as you do. As the head of the party affiliated with the EPP family, I of course attach much importance to the membership of the Republican Party of Armenia’s youth structure in your organization in the observer status, and I am sure that our youth organization will make its contribution to your institution’s development and strengthening,” the president said.

The young guests later asked the Armenian leader to brief them on his approaches to Armenia’s domestic and foreign policies, economy and security, including the European agenda, the new Constitution’s advantages and importance, as well as the Armenia-Diaspora ties and the state’s relations with the church.

At the end, they thanked the president for a warm reception, considering the event in Yerevan very important and useful also for the Armenian youth in terms of having reliable friends and partners in the region.