April 30, 2007

Raffi: From Brussels to Ararat

Yerevan—Today, April 30, Raffi K. Hovannisian returned to Armenia and immediately headed for the Ararat region to talk with his fellow citizens in Khor Virap, Surenavan, Ararat, Vedi, Aygavan, Artashat, Verin Artashat, Aygezard, Dalar, Masis, and Nor Kharberd.

Hovannisian had spent the past three days at the annual Brussels Forum of world leaders. In a special session devoted to democratic prospects, he had tied the quality of the upcoming elections to Armenia’s development, political maturity, and reputation in the eyes of the international community.

During the conference, Hovannisian met with Prince Philippe of the Kingdom of Belgium; Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus; Turkish Parliamentarian Egemen Bagis; CNN Correspondent Jim Bittermann; , U. S. Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried, BBC World Anchor Nik Gowing; United States Congressman Darrell Issa; Claude Misson, Director General of Belgium’s Royal Institute for International Relations; Vyacheslav Nikonov, President of Russia’s Polity Foundation; Vesna Pusic, Deputy Speaker of the Croatian Parliament; Pawel Zalewski, Member of Poland’s Sejm and Chairman of its Foreign Policy Committee; and Robert B. Zoellick, Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs International.