Visit to the Armenian Parliament
The ball is on their field and if Turkey does not want to make a step forward, Europe will see their real face – said Eduard Sharmazarov during a Youth4Media visit to the Armenian parliament. Getting to know Armenian foreign policy issues and young people situation in this country was the main purpose of our meeting with one of the youngest Armenian politician.
Eduard Sharmazarov is a Deputy Speaker of the Armenian Parliament (Azgayin Zhoghov) and at the same time spokesman of the Republican Party, which is now in power in this country. During the meeting with young people from Spain, Germany, Georgia and Armenia he has presented the current situation in the country after 6th May elections and the main objectives of the government. He has also referred to the young people problems. In his opinion the Republican Party and the government of Tigran Sargsyan offers a lot opportunities to them like supporting them with affording apartments and cars.
We also give young people the opportunity to express themselves and to be involved in our work. And it is better for them to be member of our party, because it will help them to make their dreams come true – said Sharmazanov.
Another important topic of the meeting was the Armenia relations with Turkey, Azerbaijan and the European Union. We want to have good relations with all our neighbours and with all main powers in the world. That is why our foreign policy has many factors. Of course we have established relations with the EU. We take part in Euro-Nest meetings in the European Parliament in Brussels. Soon we will also join the European People’s Party. Wilfried Martens, Chairman of the EPP congratulated us with the victory in elections.
He also made a brief excurse through Armenian and Turkish relations. He quoted Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan’s words that it is Turkey’s turn now to put a step forward for better relations.
The meeting with Eduard Sharmazanov has been organized on Friday, May 12, 2012 during the Youth4Media seminar in Yerevan. Participants of the seminar (from Spain, Germany, Georgia, Poland, Belarus and Armenia) had a possibility to discuss, ask questions and record interviews. All of them could easily communicate with him thanks to the professional translation of one of the participants.
The visit in the Azgayin Zhoghov National Assembly was organized by our partner in Armenia Hrant Melik-Shahnazaryan, president of the Center for Strategic Research. He helds and coordinates the international seminar entitled Civil Society Empowerment and media participation. This is our third seminar in the South Caucasus region, and the first in Armenia. In 2008 and 2010 Youth4Media organized also media trainings in Tbilisi. The project is supported by the Youth in Action Programme of the European Union.
Varvara Musaelyan
