ARF-D Bureau Chairman, Hrant Margaryan held a meeting with the President of the Socialist International, former Prime Minister of Greece and PASOK party’s previous leader, George Papandreou, on September 17, in Athens.

Papandreou and Margaryan discussed about the effects the financial crisis has had on the region, issues of interest for the Socialist International as well as about the latest developments in the Caucasus and the Middle East.

Margaryan invited the SI President to visit Armenia. Accepting Margaryan’s invitation Papandreou thanked the ARF-D for being an active member of the organization and for its contribution within the framework of the Committee for the CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea.

The Socialist International is the worldwide organization of social democratic, socialist and labor parties. It currently brings together 170 political parties and organizations from almost 140 countries.

In 2003, ARF-D was the first one among CIS political parties, to hold a SI full membership status.

ARF-D Bureau member, Mario Nalbandian serves as SI Vice-President while ARF-D Bureau member Vahan Hovhannesyan is Co-Chairman of the Committee for the CIS, the Caucasus and the Black Sea. ARF-D is also a member of the Statutory Committee on Finance and Administration of the SI.

The ARF-D Women’s Group is a full member of the SIW (Socialist International Women). The youth organization of the ARF-D, the Armenian Youth Federation, is a full member of the IUSY (International Union of Socialist Youth).