On December 3, during RA Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan's visit to The Hague, it was announced that the Republic of Armenia would join the "Freedom Online Coalition." With the unanimous support of all member states, Armenia became the 42nd member of the coalition.
The documents necessary for joining the coalition were exchanged during the meeting of the foreign ministers of Armenia and the Netherlands, taking into account the current presidency of the Netherlands on the platform.
In this regard, the ministers made notes on the "X" platform. Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan noted in his post.
"I am glad that Armenia joined the "Freedom Online Coalition," which was announced under the presidency of the Netherlands after I met with Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp in The Hague. This milestone reflects Armenia's steadfast commitment to promoting an approach to protecting fundamental freedoms and human rights, including online platforms."
The note of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Caspar Veldkamp, explicitly mentions, "We are glad that Armenia joined the Freedom Online Coalition during our presidency." This reflects Armenia's strong commitment to promoting and protecting human rights in the online domain. I welcome this step by Armenia.
In connection with Armenia's membership, the message published by the "Freedom Online Coalition" emphasizes that in recent years, Armenia has shown a commitment to protect and promote human rights on the Internet, both through domestic initiatives and through active participation and cooperation in various international organizations.
Guided by the "Digital Transformation Strategy (2021-2025)," Armenia is implementing several initiatives aimed at developing transparent and effective digital governance, promoting digital literacy, and expanding citizens' access to innovative technologies. At the same time, RA's active participation in the meetings of the "Democracy Summit" emphasizes its commitment to strengthening democratic institutions at the global level.
The message also refers to the message of RA Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan that "democracy, rule of law and human rights are absolute values for Armenia and its people, and nowadays, when we are witnessing hybrid threats and challenges in the digital domain, key it is essential to unite the efforts of like-minded partners aimed at ensuring the human rights and fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.