South East Europe ConferenceSouth East Europe Conference

The second conference of Christian democrats of Eastern Europe was held on September 25-26 in Sevan, Hotel Complex “Harsnakar Armenia. The conference was organized by the Christian Democratic Union of Armenia, Christian Union of the Netherlands, European Christian Political Movement, Eastern European Bureau of Christian Democratic Parties, Christian Democratic Union of Nagorno Karabakh and Christian Peoples’ Unity of Armenia.

 The representatives of Christian Democratic Parties and organizations from 8 countries such as Moldova, Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, the Netherlands, Armenia and not recognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh gathered around the topic: “European Democratic Movement today, From Values to practice”.

Among the guests were the representatives of the National Assembly and Political Parties of RA: Dr. Tatul Manaseryan /Adviser to the Chairman of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia/,Mr. Hayk Babukhanyan/Chairman, Constitutional Right Union of Armenia/,Mr. Paruyr Hayrikyan/Chairman, “Union of National Self-Determination” Party, Mr. Vazgen Manukyan /Chairman, “National Democratic Union” Party/, Mr. Yuri Manukyan /Chairman, United Communist Party of Armenia/, the ambassadors and the representatives of different NGOs and Religious Organisations /Doctor Rene Levonyan , the Armenian Evangelical Church/, Archbishop Neshan Karakeheyan /Ordinary of Armenian Catholic Church in Armenia.

By means of an official greeting, the chairman of the ECPM, Mr Peeter Vosu wished all participants of the conference the God’s blessing and stated the following about the importance of Christian democrats in politics:

We need Christians in European politics. Only politicians with strong Christian identity can preserve and advance Christian values in our societies. To be a politician is a calling from the Lord, like to be a pastor or a priest. You are called by the Lord to serve your societies.

Furthermore, the General Secretary of the ECPM, Guido van Beusekom and the representative for Eastern Europe, Leo van Doesburg, were present at the conference together with many other participants. The participants and the organizers of the conference also received greetings from the General Secretary of the European People’s Party Antonio Lopez Isturiz, who stated about party’s support of the consolidation of Christian democrats of Eastern Europe and the establishment of a stable cooperation between them. In his written address to the Conference he expressed interest in the development of closer ties will all European Christian democratic political forces, which share the same values and principles and welcomed the initiative of Khosrov Harutyunyan to host the second conference of the Eastern European Bureau of Christian Democratic Parties in Armenia.

All the speakers rebounded to the political and economical problems occurred in post soviet countries and the role of CDP in that sphere.

After two days of vehement and interesting discussions the participants of the conference bring to the end the results of their works. The Conference resulted in establishment of the Association of Christian Democrats of Eastern Europe and adopted its legislation, which was found on Christian values. The decision on establishment of the Association was taken by the chairmen and representatives of 5 parties (CDM of Georgia, CDPP of Moldova, BCD, Belarus, CDU of Armenia and the CDU of Ukraine). The idea on establishment of the Association was supported by the Chairs of CDU of Latvia and Estonian Christian Democrats. All these parties are also a member of the European Christian Political Movement. Also, the CDU of Nagorno-Karabakh joined the Association as an associated member. The chairman of CDU of Armenia, former Prime Minister and former speaker of Armenia, Mr. Khosrov Harutyunyan, was elected as the Chairman of the Association. The deputy chairman of the CDU of Ukraine Yuri Reshetnikov was elected as the Executive Secretary of the Association. All the political parties and organizations involved in the Association and the CPUA, are also members of  ECPM.

This conference was the logistic and smooth continue of the start, which was put by the efforts of ECPM. There were also adopted suggestions about the practical steps of further activities during the conference. With our joint efforts we achieved, that European Christian Democratic Movement today, with its new ideas and power, could manage to have its specific role in the political arena of Eastern and Western Europe. It’s important to mention, that this conference gave a new impulse to the Christian Democratic Movement in Armenia.

From the name of all the members of CPUA and CDU, we appreciate and are thankful to the ECPM for their assistance, experience exchange and financial support, which allow the practical realization of all mentioned above.

We are sure, that in following years, all the present political parties and organizations, will act with more joint efforts in political fields not only of their own countries, but also in European political field.