RA NA Speaker Alen Simonyan delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the PACE Legal Affairs and Human Rights Commission session.
"I am glad to welcome the participants of the session of the Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in Yerevan.
This year, we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Council of Europe. To this day, the organization continues to act as an outstanding institution for promoting human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, impacting the lives of 700 million people.
Armenia's European orientation is a result of natural selection. It stems from the agenda of democratic reforms of our state because, in its past and present, Armenia has been an integral part of European civilization, based on a shared value system and a unique historical and cultural heritage.
The Council of Europe is an essential partner for Armenia to strengthen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in implementing reforms in our country. The results of our joint efforts are visible and irreversible.
The ongoing reforms in the country are also a pillar of security for us and are directly related to our steps towards achieving peace in the region. By developing a sovereign, stable, and democratic state, it is possible to achieve lasting peace.
Today, we are all facing serious challenges in various corners of the world. Speaking of our region, I must say that Armenia faces security and humanitarian problems. Unfortunately, after the Reykjavik summit, we witnessed the principle of non-use of force again—Gross human rights violations.
We highly appreciate the responses and actions of the bodies of the Council of Europe aimed at the needs of the refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh to keep the issue of the mandatory repatriation of Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan at the center of attention.
Despite the existing challenges, Armenia is actively trying to establish stable and lasting peace in the region. In regulating relations with Azerbaijan, we have ratified the first international legal document between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which governs the joint activities of the two commissions dealing with border demarcation. The basis of the process is the Alma-Ata Declaration of 1991, which means that our borders are defined by that document and established during the Soviet Union. By which both countries became independent.
As an essential component of the peace agenda, Armenia initiated the "Crossroads of Peace" project, which is our road map for sustaining peace, aimed at effectively unblocking regional communications and ensuring sustainable economic development based on the principles of jurisdiction, sovereignty and legislation, reciprocity and equality of countries.
I want to express my gratitude to all our partners from the member states of the Council of Europe, who consistently support establishing peace in our region to protect human rights.
I wish you productive work and pleasant days in hospitable Armenia."
