The President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, on Thursday met in Madrid with President Joseph Daul of the European People’s Party (EPP).

At the outset, Sargsyan congratulated Daul on being reelected as EPP President during its congress on Wednesday and wished him success. He expressed the hope that under Daul’s leadership, the EPP, as the most influential political force of Europe, will continue to fulfill its mission and meet the expectations of European voters.

The interlocutors discussed the avenues for further promotion of cooperation with the EPP, the prospects of Armenia-European Union (EU) relations, the strengthening of ties between the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the EPP, Armenia’s collaboration with its EPP partners within international platforms, and the shared matters and challenges which will also be touched upon at Thursday’s broadened summit of the EPP.

The presidents of Armenia and the EPP also reflected on the current phase of the Nagorno-Karabakh peace process within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group and the existing problems. The interlocutors also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and the refugee crisis.

President Sargsyan briefed Joseph Daul on the process of making constitutional amendments in Armenia, and the importance of making such amendments to the basic law of the country.

Serzh Sargsyan also noted that he warmly recalls Joseph Daul’s visit to Armenia in April and his participation in the Armenian Genocide Centennial commemorations,

The EPP president, in turn, reiterated his and his party’s loyalty to the universal values that underlie European integration.

Sargsyan, stressing the importance of the “The Armenian Genocide and European Values” resolution adopted by the EPP Political Assembly, thanked the party leader and the EPP members of the PACE who endorsed this statement.

The President of Armenia will also take part in the EPP broadened summit in Madrid.