"If that is true, why are we still fighting for the return of captives?" - Ararat Mirzoyan

On May 20, the 132nd ministerial session of the Council of Europe took place in Turin, Italy, where the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, participated and delivered a speech.

"From Armenia's experience, we know how important a role the Council of Europe can play in assisting countries to build strong democratic institutions and systems. This year, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution on the functioning of democratic institutions in Armenia, where the PACE recognized Armenia's progress in the democratic development process. Perhaps the most vivid example of this progress was last summer's snap parliamentary elections, when the citizens of Armenia once again proved their commitment and dedication to the values of democracy and human rights.

Today, we are witnessing the impending collapse of the security architecture, which, of course, did not start recently—in the last few months. Two years ago, we felt the breakdown of multilateralism and the fracture that emerged in international institutions when Azerbaijan unleashed war against Nagorno-Karabakh and its people, violating the principle of non-use of force. It has been two years since those horrific times, and Azerbaijan claims that the issue of Nagorno-Karabakh is resolved, and they are ready for peace.

It may sound naive, but if that is true, why are we still fighting for the rights of prisoners of war and detained persons and their immediate release and return? Why are we still fighting for people's cultural rights and against the destruction of Armenian cultural heritage under Azerbaijan’s control, stemming from its policies? Why are we fighting for children's right to quality education when their schools are frequently under fire? Why are we fighting for people's right to have basic living conditions in their homes when the only gas pipeline is being disrupted? I can continue to provide new examples, but I will be brief: why are we fighting to make Azerbaijan understand that Nagorno-Karabakh is not just a piece of territory, but people whose dignity must be respected?

And, dear colleagues, since commitment to human rights has brought us all here, this is a challenge for all of us. The Armenian government is committed to efforts to establish peace and prosperity in the region and has repeatedly reaffirmed its readiness to immediately initiate real and constructive negotiations to resolve relations with Azerbaijan. In this context, the co-chairmanship of the OSCE Minsk Group plays a key role in advancing the peace process. However, we firmly believe that the Council of Europe, within the framework of its mandate, should also be active in supporting this process.

I would like to conclude by stating that the need for peace and stability in our region has long matured,” said the Armenian Foreign Minister.