President Serzh Sargsyan`s speech in Marseille.

Membership of Armenian political forces to European political units is a significant achievement, President Serzh Sargsyan said, assessing Armenian delegation’s participation in the Congress of the European People's Party (EPP) in Marseille, addressing the reception at Marseille Mayor’s Office.

“My delegation has arrived in Marseille to attend the Congress of the European People's Party. Irrespective of our expectations and the results, this is a significant achievement on the path of bringing Armenia closer to Europe, and I want to tell my compatriots that the President of the European People's Party giving me the badge of EPP at the big hall today told me that we are members of the European political family. This is a serious achievement to us,” said the President.

Serzh Sargsyan also made remarks on Armenia’s European integration.

“We have repeatedly said that we view the European vector as a priority. One of our key directions is to ensure a deserved role and place for Armenia in European structures. It is correct from the point of view of the entire political system. Currently Armenia’s political field is also Europeanizing and accepting European values,” stated Serzh Sargsyan.

The Armenian President thanked his European partners and particularly his French counterpart for this achievement. He added that Armenians living in Europe can help Armenia pass this way efficiently.

The President also turned to Turkey stressing that the recent developments clearly showed what stance France and French people had.

“I would like to assure you that the recent visit of French President Nicolas Sarkozy to Armenia was of historical importance. Not a single world leader voiced such words addressed to the Armenian people regarding the Genocide, our pains. We must be grateful to wise President of this wonderful country,” he said addressing the Marseille city leadership and representatives of the local Armenian community.

According to him, Turkey must face its past and reconsider approaches to the Armenian Genocide.

“Our position has not changed. We are ready to have relations with Turkey as a neighboring state,” he said brining an example of Germany and Poland. “Chancellor Willy Brandt bent his knee in the Warsaw Ghetto admitting his country’s guilt,” Sargsyan said.

President believes that sooner or later Turkey, which considers itself a European state, will have reputable leaders and they will bow their heads near the Armenian Genocide memorial in Yerevan.