We Expect the International Community to Provide an Accurate Assessment of the Situation in Our Country: Pashinyan

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is participating in the 18th summit of the International Organization of La Francophonie in the city of Jerba, Tunisia. Armenia has been presiding over the organization for the past four years.

At the beginning of the event, the leaders of the countries, including Prime Minister Pashinyan, were welcomed by Tunisian President Kais Saied and the Secretary-General of the International Organization of La Francophonie, Louise Mushikiwabo.

The summit is attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and leaders from several other member states of the organization.

Following a photo session with the participants of the summit, the conference formally commenced.

In his speech, Prime Minister Pashinyan stated, “Your Excellency, esteemed President Kais Saied, Distinguished colleagues—heads of states and governments; Ladies and gentlemen, heads of delegations; Madame Secretary-General of La Francophonie; Ladies and gentlemen,

First and foremost, I wish to express my satisfaction for being here in the warm and valued environment of Francophonie in Jerba, Tunisia. I thank President Saied and the people of Tunisia for organizing such an important meeting and for their warm hospitality.

By holding this summit for the first time in Tunisia, we pay our respects to one of the founding fathers of Francophonie, President Habib Bourguiba.

Your Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, Madame Secretary-General of Francophonie, it has been four years since the last Francophonie summit in Yerevan, an exceptionally long period during our current presidency, which Armenia has carried out with honor, unreservedly fulfilling all the obligations we assumed.

I would like to thank the Secretary-General of La Francophonie, dear Louise Mushikiwabo, for effectively managing our organization during this period and for the quality relationships we have established. I am pleased that we have been able to work together in complete harmony.

I also want to commend her efforts to shape a new identity for La Francophonie and to make the organization a resolutely forward-looking body that takes on ambitions commensurate with the challenges the world faces.

In recent years, the world has been subjected to significant shocks. The devastating Covid-19 pandemic, the climate emergency, the resurgence of wars and their consequences on global food and energy supplies have left a deep mark in shaping the new international environment.

Moreover, the aforementioned challenges have revealed the accuracy and relevance of the approaches and values that underpin our responses.

In the face of pandemic-related and climate-related urgent challenges, we must continue to promote enhanced cooperation between countries, highlighting the principle of solidarity. This should imply that proposed programs and initiatives can benefit the most vulnerable countries, as well as populations in vulnerable situations.

Confronted with the intensification of hate speech and intolerance, we reaffirm today the relevance of the “Living Together” slogan from the Yerevan summit and the need to promote respect for human rights, equality, and cultural diversity.

Ultimately, while confronting the multiplication of crises and conflicts, we welcome the commitment of La Francophonie to the advancement of multilateralism, which guarantees the existence of an international system based on respect for law and state sovereignty.

Unfortunately, we must note that fundamental principles of the UN Charter have recently been violated, particularly the principle of refraining from the use of force against the territorial integrity of any state, which underpins our collective security, thus gradually imposing the law of the strongest.

Azerbaijan's aggression, which victimized the Republic of Armenia on September 13-14 of this year, is a vivid manifestation of this reality.

Azerbaijan's unprovoked and unjustified aggression has led to the occupation of parts of Armenia's territories, causing death and suffering to the civilian population and resulting in significant destruction.

However, the established ceasefire has not yet put an end to this country's ambitions toward other territories of Armenia. Facing new threats, we expect the international community to provide an accurate assessment of the situation prevailing in our country today, condemning the occupation of certain parts of Armenian territory and demanding the return of Azerbaijani forces to their previous positions.

Armenia, for its part, is firmly committed to contributing to the peace treaty process with Azerbaijan and ensuring the rights and security of the Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh.

Your Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, Madame Secretary-General of Francophonie, as the acting president of the Francophonie summit, Armenia continues to carry out its activities within the framework of our Francophone call to live together, having initiated a resolution on living together during the Covid-19 pandemic that was adopted in November 2020 by the Ministerial Conference of La Francophonie.

Our country has closely followed the activities of La Francophonie in the digital and economic spheres and the significant progress achieved under the leadership of the Secretary-General. In this regard, we express our gratitude to the OIF for its efforts to enhance economic collaboration between the various regions of the French-speaking world.

I would also like to emphasize the importance of the declaration on the French language that will be adopted, which will become a significant document regarding the French language, recording its role in connecting all Francophone countries.

Finally, Armenia has accompanied and supported the Secretary-General in implementing these reforms, and it is commendable that our organization is now working on implementing a roadmap based on reconfirmed and new strategic frameworks of the main priorities of La Francophonie.

Armenia is confident that this articulated universal aspiration will enhance the visibility of La Francophonie at the international level, as well as promote the dissemination of its values and ideas, to which my country remains deeply committed.

Your Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, Madame Secretary-General of Francophonie, in concluding my speech, I would like to once again express my gratitude to the Secretary-General for her willingness and engagement. Now, I hand over the presidency of the Francophonie summit to you, Mr. President, wishing you every success. Thank you for your attention.

After the speech, there was a symbolic ceremony of transferring the presidency of the International Organization of La Francophonie from Armenia to Tunisia, marked by a handshake between the Prime Minister of Armenia and the President of Tunisia.