Raffi  Hovannisian, the Heritage Party’s current chairman received from European People’s Party (EPP) chairman Wilfried Martens the official EPP pin symbolizing Heritage’s entry into the EPP family as an observer member. A formal decision will be made next February.

This breaking development was announced during the EPP chairman’s keynote address at the party’s 20th annual congress here. Hovannisian conferred separately with Martens, president of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek, Mayor Jean-Claude Gaudin of Marseille, and several European presidents, prime ministers, members of parliament, and EPP leaders.

The Republican Party of Armenia, the Prosperous Armenia Party, and the Rule of Laws parties also have made application for observer status in the EPP.