Armenian president speaks at summit of European People's Party in Brussels

In his speech Sargsyan spoke about Armenia's European agenda which has an important place in the Armenia-EU relations and the ongoing reforms, which have a special meaning for the Armenian people this year when Armenians at home and abroad mark the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide by emphasizing the importance of its international recognition and condemnation as the only effective means of preventing future crimes against humanity. 

Sargsyan thanked the EPP for its resolution on the Armenian Genocide adopted March 3, saying it has proved EPP's commitment to basic human values and principles. 

The resolution on the genocide of Armenians, condemns genocide acts against the Armenian people planned and committed by Ottoman Empire and other Turkish governments in 1894-1924. 

The document says the genocide acts resulted not only in the death and dispossession of more than two million human beings but also in the decimation of the Armenian patrimony, its ways of life, and its foundational contributions to Western culture and world civilization. 

 Sargsyan thanked Head of the European People's Party Joseph Daul for accepting his invitation to visit Yerevan on April 24 to remember victims of the genocide together with Armenian people. 

On February 10, 2012, three Armenian parties – the Republican Party of Armenia, Orinats Yerkir and Heritage – got status of observer in the European People's Party. 

Armenian Genocide was the first genocide committed in XX century. 

Turkey denies the accusation of massacres and the killing of one and a half million Armenians during World War I. 

The fact of the Armenian genocide is recognized by many countries, particularly by Uruguay, Russia, France, Lithuania, most of the U.S. states, as well as by the parliaments of Greece, Cyprus, Argentina, Belgium, Wales, National Council of Switzerland, Common House of Canada, the Seym of Poland and lower house of Italian parliament. ---0-----