The delegation headed by RA NA Speaker Alen Simonyan is in Ankara within the framework of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly. The Speaker of the RA National Assembly made a speech at the Summit of Speakers of Parliaments dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Assembly. The address is presented in full.

"Dear Mr. President,

Dear Colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

A tragedy happened in Belgrade yesterday; I offer my condolences to my Serbian colleague and again express my support to the government and people of Turkey for the loss of tens of thousands of lives during the devastating earthquake on February 6. Armenia knows very well what an earthquake is, and our country was one of the first to respond to the disaster, sending humanitarian aid and a rescue team to the disaster zone.

It is highly optimistic that the humanitarian cargo crossed the land border from Armenia to Turkey through the Margara Bridge, which had been closed for 30 years.

Since last year, Armenia and Turkey have started a process of normalization of relations, within which specific achievements have been recorded, but there are still many unresolved issues. Shortly, it will be possible to not only carry humanitarian cargo through the land border but also open it for international traffic and trade.

Dear participants of the summit, 30 years ago, our countries' parliaments pledged to fulfill their peoples' hopes and expectations and confirmed their determination to take advantage of all opportunities for the expansion of cooperation between the countries of the region in various fields and levels. Today, those expectations remain just as relevant.

As a founding member of the organization, Armenia reaffirms its commitment to fully utilize the potential of the Assembly to promote regional economic cooperation and effectively implement its statutory goals.

Armenia attaches importance to closer coordination between the CSDP and the Parliamentary Assembly, which will build a more robust interaction. Considering the experience of holding joint meetings between the Standing Committee of the Assembly and the Committee of Senior Officials of the CSTO, such discussions should have been resumed long ago to discuss all the issues on the table thoroughly.

In our opinion, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation should continue to exert its further efforts in an apolitical, constructive, and comprehensive manner based on the principle of sovereign equality. Regional cooperation can benefit significantly from parliamentary cooperation.

We consider it essential to harmonize the activities of the CSTO PA and the CSTO globally, especially with the UN's 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda.

Armenia remains loyal to the declared goals of this organization. Despite many challenges, the people of Armenia have clearly and loudly reaffirmed their determination to strengthen respect for human rights, the rule of law, and equal opportunities in economic and social life.

Dear Colleagues,

We continue to face serious security challenges in the Black Sea Economic Cooperation region. The 44-day war in Nagorno-Karabakh in the fall of 2020 and the ongoing war in Ukraine have severe geopolitical consequences for the overall security architecture.

In 2021, and then in September 2022, Azerbaijan launched another unprovoked military aggression along Armenia's eastern and southeastern borders, invading and occupying our sovereign territories.

At this moment, it has been almost five months, Azerbaijan, grossly violating the provisions of the tripartite declaration of November 9, 2020, has blocked the Lachin corridor in the area of responsibility of the Russian Federation peacekeepers, the only way to life in Nagorno-Karabakh, which has led to a humanitarian crisis. On April 23, Azerbaijan set up an illegal checkpoint at the beginning of the Lachin Corridor. Although the Azerbaijani side claims the corridor is open, it remains closed to free traffic.

The crisis had a comprehensive international response. The European Court of Human Rights and the International Court of Justice of the United Nations have issued decisions regarding unblocking the Lachine Corridor, which official Baku has ignored.

Two and a half years have passed since the war's end, and Azerbaijan still holds at least 33 prisoners of war hostage.

The situation created by the use of aggression against Armenia cannot become a basis for stable and lasting peace.

Armenia reaffirmed the principles of neighborly relations and mutually beneficial cooperation in its foreign policy. We have no territorial claims toward our neighbors, and we expect our neighbors to be guided by that principle as well. During the quadrilateral meeting held in Prague on October 6, 2022, with the participation of the President of France and the President of the European Council, Armenia and Azerbaijan 

the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the UN Charter and the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration, through which both sides recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Colleagues, negotiations of the delegations led by the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan are underway in Washington on the initiative of the United States Secretary of State. Issues related to the security situation in the region and the process of regulating relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan are the subject of discussion. This is a positive development, and I wish the diplomats the best of luck.

Conflicts should be settled peacefully. We are convinced that regional economic cooperation can strengthen people's peace, stability, and well-being, as enshrined in the Charter of the CSTO and the relevant statutory documents of the Parliamentary Assembly.

In 2021 and 2022, Armenia's economy recorded steady growth. Last year, it was more than 14 percent, and the trade turnover with several member countries of our organization significantly increased. Our economy continues to perform well thanks to sound macroeconomic policies and legislative reforms affecting economic development. We have also embarked on significant reforms to reduce corruption and increase transparency.

As a landlocked developing country, Armenia re-emphasizes the importance of unhindered access to the sea by all means of transportation. It values the development of regional connectivity and sustainable transportation systems. Armenia is ready to continue unblocking communications based on sovereignty, territorial integrity, and full respect for national legislation.

The Black Sea Economic Cooperation Parliamentary Assembly should be a regional driving force in the rapidly changing international environment. Only when we parliamentarians join our efforts will we be able to overcome common challenges and take advantage of everyday opportunities? Let us use this jubilee year to reflect on the lessons of the past three decades and reaffirm our commitment to moving the organization forward.

In conclusion, I congratulate Ukraine on assuming the upcoming chairmanship of the CSTO PA and wish them success in their endeavors.

Thanks to the host country for hosting and organizing the summit."