The former presidents, as well as Vartan Gregorian of the Carnegie Foundation, meet with President Serzh Sargsyan.

President Sargsyan Meets with Members of Madrid Club, Aurora Selection Committee

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YEREVAN —  On May 28, President Serzh Sargsyan hosted a gathering at the Presidential Palace for representatives of The Club de Madrid and Aurora Prize selection committee.

The Club de Madrid is an independent non-profit organization created to promote democracy and change in the international community. Composed of 95 regular members, 64 of which are former presidents and 39 of which are former prime ministers from 65 countries, the Club de Madrid is the world’s largest forum of former Heads of State and Government.

Among the members of the Madrid Club, former President of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa and former President of Botswana Festus Mogae, who were invited to participate at the Award Prize award ceremony in Yerevan, as well as the former President of Mexico Ernesto Zedillo, who is a member of the Aurora Prize selection committee.

The President of Armenia welcomed the guests to Armenia and noted that their participation to the Aurora Prize award ceremony proves that the international repute of the Aurora Prize increases from year to year and its ideology is truly based on all human values. Underscoring that progressive humanity makes huge efforts to establish stability, peace, and solidarity in the world, President Sargsyan at the same time noted with regret that today too people regularly witness mass killings and carnage, hatred propaganda, discrimination based on religious, racial, language difference, the intended destruction of cultural heritage. “All this shows that it is necessary to invigorate the fight against such crimes and certainly encourage people who are engaged in the immediate fight with the crimes.

“We are grateful to you personally, thank you that through your activities you help to conduct that fight,” Sargsyan said and underlined that the participants of the meeting and all nominees of the Aurora Prize deserve the utmost respect. Their stories are the stories of exceptional courage and selflessness and are very moving, but at the same time inspiring and encouraging.

At the meeting, President Sargsyan and representatives of the Madrid Club and Aurora Prize selection committee exchanged views on the priorities of Armenia’s domestic and foreign policy, the NK peace process, a number of pressing international issues, the current level of Armenia’s cooperation with other countries and international organizations, and prospects.

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Experienced state, public and political figures hosted at the Presidential Palace also shared information on the reforms going on in different areas in their countries.
Sargsyan responded to the questions raised by the participants of the meeting.

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