A delegation headed by Alen Simonyan, Chairman of the National Assembly, in Dublin, is participating in the European Conference of Speakers of Parliaments of the Council of Europe.

Speakers of the parliaments of 46 member states of the Council of Europe, parliamentarians of observer countries, and heads of interparliamentary organizations participated in the conference.

RA NA Speaker Alen Simonyan gave a speech titled "Representational democracy challenges in unstable times."

"Dear Mr. Fairghale,

Dear Mr. Buttimer, Mr. Fox, Madam Secretary General,

Friends, ladies and gentlemen,

I thank Mr. Fairghail, Mr. Butter, and our Irish friends for their warm hospitality and for organizing this event. It is a great honor to participate in this conference and speak. We are deeply aware of the depth of the many problems and threats that characterize our troubled times. The famous Irish writer and politician William Yeats said, ``There is blood and violence everywhere:

The challenges facing liberalism and representative democracy are profound. Reliable solutions are needed. It is optional to look beyond the war in Ukraine through the instrument of force to notice the worldwide power pattern. This anti-democratic backsliding takes place to the detriment of human rights and contradicts the European Convention on Human Rights formulated to collective values and ideals.

We are deeply aware of the critical role that democracy plays in protecting human rights and promoting the common good. Undoubtedly, it is the most effective system for strengthening citizens' trust in their governments and increasing the vitality of society. Among the threats to undermining political order are autocratic rule and unrepentant justice.

Armenia knows the value of real democracy: Strengthening democracy through the strengthening of democratic institutions, improvement of legislation, and reforms in the sphere of governance is a priority for us. Our commitment to democratic principles was the most critical factor that allowed us to overcome the 44-day destruction unleashed by Azerbaijan in 2020 on the people of Nagorno-Karabakh, the severe political crisis caused by the war. In Armenia, the people exercise their power as guaranteed by the Constitution through free and fair elections. We continue to implement reforms and develop legislation to strengthen electoral rights per European standards.

Partners, peace, and democracy are interconnected, and governments facing existential threats are under enormous pressure to fulfill the mandated mission for which they were elected. The Nagorno-Karabakh war showed that autocratic regimes based on the idea that "the strong is right" conflicts are often resolved by military force, bypassing international mediation. Today, our democracy continues to face many challenges. External factors and military threats to our security and territorial integrity threaten it.

The constant threat of violence hurts the well-being of our society. Azerbaijan's loud rhetoric of hatred and xenophobia, accompanied by ultimatums and military aggression, has created a toxic atmosphere and poisoned the peace process. The international community's actions have created a sense of impunity in Azerbaijan. They are aggravating the situation in the region. Azerbaijan's actions are not limited to Nagorno-Karabakh but extend to Armenia's sovereign territories, some of which remain under Azerbaijan's control. Azerbaijan's approach is to impose its preferred decisions on Armenia by force. For over three years, Azerbaijan refused to return Armenian prisoners of war and other civilians in defiance of the conclusion of the European Court of Human Rights. Moreover, after the court's decision, Azerbaijan kidnapped 2 Armenian service members from the territory of Armenia. As a result, the total number of confirmed prisoners of war reached 35.

Dear colleagues, I am not surprised that our Turkish partner approved of using military force against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. I am unsurprised that Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Russia often use the same rhetoric. I am surprised they do it here in the organization founded to protect rights.

Colleagues, Azerbaijan has constantly attacked Armenia in various ways. In his own words, President Aliyev thought about how many incentives Armenia needed to understand the essence of the case. "2021 and 2022 border the actions were not enough," he thought. He also noted that Armenia did not seem to understand the closing of the first phase of the ethnic cleansing campaign on its side about 10 months ago in the Lachin Corridor: On September 19, the next part began. Despite the presence of Russian peacekeepers, Azerbaijan has unleashed another large-scale military attack against the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh. Hundreds of people have been injured and killed, and tens of thousands of people have been forcibly displaced. They remain outside without food, medical care, and other means of survival. While talking about Azerbaijan's ethnic cleansing program, the mass exodus of Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh continues. It is unbelievable that today, in the 21st century, similar events occur in different corners of the world. With its actions nullifying international efforts to establish peace and stability in the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan doubts the importance of being a member of the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe must actively participate in the protection of human rights in the most complex conflicts. Within the geographical boundaries of the Council of Europe, including Nagorno-Karabakh, the security of every human right must be a priority for the Council of Europe. Armenia continues to achieve a just and sustainable peace in the region.

We hope that the meeting of the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Germany, France, and the EU in the framework of the third summit of the European Political Community to be held on October 5 in Granada, Spain, will be a step forward. Armenia strongly supports the agreement agreed by Prime Minister Pashinyan President Aliyev and the President of the European Council Charles To the peace approach formulated by Michelle. We welcome future transport agreements that respect sovereignty, jurisdiction, and reciprocity. We call on the international community, including the Council of Europe, to support this process: Today, some countries are waging a hybrid war against Armenia.

The goals are twofold: overthrow the democratically elected government and discredit the concept of "representative democracy." Democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights, and peaceful coexistence are the pillars on which humanity must live in peace and harmony. It is fair not only in democratic states within the frameworks individually but also between them collectively. Together, and only together, we can overcome the difficulties of our time. The center must stand. Thank you»