Session of the European People’s Party (EPP) Faction at the Euronest Parliamentary Assembly (PA) of the Eastern Partnership was convened in the Moldovan capital city Chișinău on October 13.    

At the event Armenia was represented by the Euronest PA Armenian delegation members, namely, National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Foreign Relations Chairman Artak Zakaryan, and NA MPs Karine Achemyan and Zaruhi Postanjyan.  

The session discussants examined the political state of affairs and the European integration process in the Partnership-member countries (Armenia, Georgia, Ukraine, Moldova, Azerbaijan, and Belarus), and the declaration adopted by the leaders of these countries. 

Artak Zakaryan delivered addresses on behalf of the Armenian delegation. During the talks, the participants pointed to the progress which Armenia recorded in the 2012 parliamentary elections, and they expressed a conviction that next year’s presidential elections likewise will be conducted at a high level.  

Also, Zakaryan presented details on the priority programs included in Armenia’s European integration process.  

Subsequently, Zaruhi Postanjyan posed several questions with respect to some theses made during the Azerbaijani representative’s remarks. She expressed astonishment that, following the infamous Ramil Safarov—the Azerbaijani army officer who axed to death Armenian soldier Gurgen Margaryan in Budapest—case, Azerbaijan’s representative is cynically noting that the country is a modern and a tolerant state which allegedly encourages and supports cultural dialogue. Postanjyan noted that human rights are trenched upon in Azerbaijan where there are political prisoners to this day, and murderer Safarov’s glorification in the country bespeaks Azerbaijan’s militaristic and anti-Armenian policy, and she proposed that the EPP likewise give its political assessment on this incident.        

In his closing remarks, Artak Zakaryan noted that all prestigious international organizations have criticized what transpired in connection with Safarov, and underscored that, during its next session, the Euronest PA, too, reflect on this deplorable and unacceptable incident.