We Strive for the Release of Captured Individuals as Soon as Possible: Alen Simonyan

The President of the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan, delivered a speech at the general discussions of the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly:

“Madam President, Mr. Secretary General, Your Excellences, Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is an honor to speak on behalf of the National Assembly of Armenia at the 151st Inter-Parliamentary Union Assembly. The importance of this general discussion topic for the Armenian people is hard to overestimate.

Armenia is familiar with humanitarian crises, holding the tragic memory of the 1988 Spitak earthquake, which claimed tens of thousands of lives and left hundreds of thousands homeless. A vast amount of humanitarian aid was sent from 113 countries, demonstrating that international solidarity and humanitarian cooperation can transcend borders and political disagreements.

Our peacekeepers have participated in missions in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Lebanon, working to protect civilians and promote stability. We will continue to strengthen our humanitarian capacities and expand protections where necessary.

In just a few days in September 2023, over 100,000 Armenians were displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh, arriving in Armenia. For a country of three million people, this was a serious test of capacities and resilience. By providing shelter, healthcare, educational services, and job opportunities, the Armenian government responded to the situation with compassion and decisiveness. This experience showed that even small countries, guided by principles, can realize the vision of humanity inspired by our highest ideals.

Humanitarian work is inseparable from our aspirations for peace. On August 8, 2025, in Washington, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a joint declaration, which was an important step towards ending decades of conflict and suffering. On the same day, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed the text of the ‘Agreement on Establishing Peace and Interstate Relations’.

As a result of the meetings in Washington, Armenia will work with the United States and mutually agreed third parties to ensure the implementation of the ‘Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity’ (TRIPP) initiative. The TRIPP infrastructure project stems from Armenia’s vision to ensure uninterrupted regional communication through its declared ‘Crossroads of Peace’ program, which includes railway development, as well as roads, pipelines, power transmission lines, and communication cables between Armenia, Azerbaijan, and neighboring countries.

However, I must emphasize that the issue of individuals held in Azerbaijan remains a serious humanitarian problem that must be addressed. We strive for the swift release of captured individuals and their reunification with their families. Another important humanitarian priority is clarifying the fate of numerous missing persons.

We know that Armenia is not alone in the fight for a more humanitarian world. From Ukraine to Gaza, Sudan to Haiti, humanitarian crises are unfolding before our eyes. Civilians—women, children, the elderly—continue to bear the burden of suffering. These tragedies serve as a timely reminder of our duty to defend human dignity.

We believe that human rights are universal and, as such, their protection should never be selective. Colleagues, the lessons are clear: dialogue and peace must replace dissent and war. Compassion, not inaction, should guide our actions. Upholding these principles is our shared responsibility.

Thank you.”