On January 28, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan delivered a speech at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, followed by a question-and-answer session with MPs. The full speech of the Minister is presented below.


"Madame President of the Parliamentary Assembly,

Mr Secretary General,

Madame Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly,

Distinguished Members of the Parliamentary Assembly,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me start by extending warm congratulations to you, President Bayr, for assuming the leadership of this august body and wish you all the success during your tenure. I would also like to express gratitude to you for the opportunity to address this highly respected European agora of democratic debate. And of course, my special thanks to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Mr Alain Berset, for the warm welcome extended to me and my delegation.

It is an honour and a privilege to address the Assembly on the occasion of the twenty‑fifth anniversary of the Republic of Armenia's accession to the Council of Europe. We have gathered to celebrate the valued membership of Armenia in the Council of Europe and to recognise Armenia's remarkable achievements over the recent years in ensuring the rule of law and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. This jubilee provides an opportunity to reflect on the path we have travelled together – the challenges faced, the moments of shared resolve, and the achievements made possible through joint efforts. 

It is also a chance to reflect collectively on today's common challenges and uncertainties, such as:

– hybrid attacks against democracies, including malicious spread of disinformation and weaponization of information, 

– foreign interferences into domestic democratic processes such as elections, 

– last, but not least, undermining international law and the erosion of the multilateral system.

All of these put our values and principles to the test, and it is our shared responsibility to safeguard them in an increasingly complex and fragile international environment. Тhe 75-year legacy of the Council of Europe as a standard-setter of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law empowers the Organization to expand its role in countering global democratic backsliding and contributing to the restoration of trust in the international architecture.

Distinguished Members of the Parliamentary Assembly,

Since Armenia’s accession, the Council of Europe has played a significant role in nurturing hope for democratic values and in their eventual incorporation into the very fabric of Armenian society and statehood. Each reform, each ratified convention, each institutional development has meant not just a technical change, but tangible and practical improvement in the lives of ordinary citizens. 

Armenia’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights introduced the right to appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, providing a place where citizens can seek justice and fairness when the domestic legal remedies fall short. The abolition of capital punishment guaranteed the fundamental right to life, ensuring that no individual can be sentenced to death.

The establishment of the Human Rights Defender institution gave a direct and independent channel to alert аbout rights violations committed by the state, providing ordinary people with a mechanism to seek restoration of their rights without necessarily going through long court battles.

The Venice Commission, through its legal opinions, acted as a "watchdog," aimed at ensuring that legislative reforms met international standards.

The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) provided regular monitoring and pressure to implement transparent anti-bribery laws and promote integrity within government.

Accession to the European Charter of Local Self-Government empowered local communities to manage their own affairs with greater autonomy from the central government.

Ladies and gentlemen, 

I named only basic illustrative examples, but, of course, the list can go on and on.

But let us be very frank, and I really hope that this message won’t be misunderstood. This process of prescribing reforms from outside could have continued for ages without reaching the finish line – turning Armenia into a democracy – because there was no genuine interest on the level of government. Thus, in Armenia, people changed the government, becoming the driving force behind change and democracy.

Madame President,

The peaceful democratic Revolution marked a turning point in the modern history of our country. After tasting the bitterness of all previous failures, in 2018, I myself walked along hundreds of thousands of my fellow citizens, my sisters and brothers, who filled the streets and cities of Armenia, not with weapons, but with open hands and a fierce, burning belief that we deserved better – fair and legitimate elections and right to form government through our votes; open, accountable, and transparent governance; state institutions free from corruption; social justice; taxes being spent on building schools and roads for the people, not castles and private estates for oligarchs and corrupt officials; businesses operating without paying bribes to officials and competing without artificial monopolies; an independent and efficient judiciary. 

And we proved that our nation can choose its own destiny.

Since 2018, Armenia has implemented extensive reforms. Our achievements registered since are reflected in the indices of reputable organisations like Freedom House, Reporters Without Borders, Transparency International and many others, and, of course, in the reports and resolutions of this very prestigious body. 

Most importantly, Armenia successfully conducted two snap parliamentary elections that earned both domestic and international recognition as completely free and fair, including by this august body. These milestones demonstrated a genuine transition, ensuring that the will of the citizens is accurately reflected at the ballot box.

This June, Armenia will hold parliamentary elections. For us, it represents a vital milestone in cementing the irreversibility of our democracy. It is the moment where the Armenian people will once again demonstrate that their will is the only source of power in our country.

However, we are not naive to the realities of the modern world. We know that the enemies of freedom do not sleep. We must acknowledge that they can be very creative, they are ready to pump millions of dollars into propaganda machines and illegal schemes of interference, and they own near-limitless media resources. They want to derail our sovereign choice for peace and democracy, and they want to take us back into the darkness of authoritarianism, endless conflict with neighbours and weak sovereignty. They want to use the very tools and mechanisms of democracy to destroy democracy.  

Confronting these challenges has become a daily activity. Of course, there comes the dilemma and the delicate line between upholding the freedom of expression, pluralistic media on one hand, and, on the other hand, the decisiveness to confront the malign actors aiming to misuse the freedom and undermine the trust in society, our democracy itself. Those efforts will only increase as Armenia is heading towards parliamentary elections this year.   

But, I stand here to tell you: they will not succeed.

Our society has developed an immunity to lies, and our resolve to defend our hard-won freedoms is stronger than any shadow operation. To protect democracy in Armenia, we will rely on democracy itself and the mechanisms it provides, as also outlined by the Prime Minister of Armenia Mr Pashinyan just months ago in his address to this body. We will be both prudent and decisive. With our partners, including the Council of Europe and its Parliamentary Assembly, we will ensure that these elections will serve as a showcase of our democratic resilience.

Distinguished parliamentarians,

Despite the painful experiences of recent years, including the war and the humanitarian consequences that followed, Armenia has made a clear and deliberate choice for peace, taking strong steps that enabled the South Caucasus to move to peace and cooperation in the region and beyond.

The Washington Peace Summit on 8 August 2025 marked a historical turning point with the signing of the Joint Declaration by Armenia's Prime Minister and Azerbaijan's President, the US President as a witness. Together with the foreign minister of Azerbaijan, we have initialled the Agreement on Establishment of Peace and Inter-State Relations between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, establishing principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity as the indispensable foundations for lasting peace and stability in our region.

For Armenia, this is a solemn pledge to our citizens, to all who suffered through decades of conflict, and to our future generations, that we will choose cooperation over confrontation, hope over despair, development over decline. 

Meanwhile, respect for human rights and dignity is crucial to restoring trust and reconciliation between societies, turning the page of decades of suffering and paving the way for a peaceful future. Indeed, the recent release of 4 Armenian prisoners held in Azerbaijan offers hope for this. The subsequent release of the remaining 19 Armenian detainees currently still held in Azerbaijan, as well as the cooperation in clarification of the fate of missing persons, would undoubtedly represent a meaningful contribution to reconciliation. 

Peace – much like democracy – cannot be taken for granted: it must be constantly nurtured, defended, and renewed in the face of both external and internal pressures. 

In this context, I want to stress that we deeply value the Council of Europe’s consistent attention to our region and appreciate the unwavering commitment of the Secretary General, the PACE President, and this Assembly in supporting the normalization between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Your support for lasting peace, the humanitarian dimension of normalization and human rights remains vital as we turn the page of decades of enmity. We thank you for standing with us on this historic path toward a stable and prosperous future.

At the same time, Armenia remains fully dedicated to the full normalization of relations with Türkiye. Continued progress in Armenia-Türkiye normalization, including the full opening of the border, establishment of diplomatic relations and restoration of the Gyumri-Kars railway, will be a crucial investment in strengthening regional stability and prosperity. 

Distinguished Members of the Assembly,

Last spring, the Parliament of Armenia adopted the law initiating the EU accession process. The support from both the Government and Parliament underscores that our shared vision of European integration is not just a political goal, but a societal choice driven by civic initiative. This represents the democratic will of the Armenian people to anchor our future in the European family of nations as an authentic reflection of our values and identity. Another milestone was achieved last December, when the Strategic Agenda for the Armenia-EU Partnership was adopted in Brussels, complementing the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, CEPA, elevating our partnership to a strategic level.

In May this year, in Yerevan, we will host heads of state of Europe to participate in the 8th Summit of the European Political Community, a crucial Pan-European platform to discuss evolving challenges and identify necessary steps to address them.

Madame President,

Armenia's unwavering dedication to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law defines who we are as a nation. 

Today, we renew the choice we made 25 years ago. We do so knowing that our journey of peace and democracy will face tests, that external pressures will seek to divert us, and that the road ahead remains challenging. But we also know that we do not walk this path alone. The people of Armenia know this. The Council of Europe and this Assembly stand with us. For this partnership, for this solidarity, and for the shared belief that our common values are worth defending, we express our profound gratitude.

It is symbolic that following our exchange, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Armenia's membership to the Council of Europe, we will present Armenia's official gift to the Secretary General, a manuscript reproduction of the first Armenian legal code, «Datastanagirk», created in the XII century. This masterpiece serves as a reminder of our nation's deep-rooted dedication to justice and the rule of law. I invite you all to join us for this special occasion.

I thank you for your attention. I will respond with pleasure to your questions."