Deputy Speaker of Parliament participates in IGF 2024 in Saudi Arabia

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS. Deputy Speaker of Parliament of Armenia Hakob Arshakyan has participated in the 19th annual Internet Governance Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

During the parliamentary panel discussion segment of the forum titled Powerful Collective Force for Change: Parliamentarians for a Prosperous Global Digital Future, Deputy Speaker Arshakyan presented Armenia’s policy in internet governance and high technologies, as well as the favorable legislative conditions, inviting partners to cooperate, the parliament’s press service reported.

In his remarks, Arshakyan said global digital cooperation has become highly important in an interconnected world where digital technologies have become an integral part of nearly all areas of life.

Arshakyan highlighted the importance of international cooperation between parliaments because the impact of digitization, cybersecurity and AI goes beyond state borders and is becoming a global challenge, impacting both human rights and democracy as well as the digital sovereignty of countries.

Deputy Speaker Arshakyan presented the Armenian government’s Crossroads of Peace project aimed at the unblocking of regional infrastructures and promotion of regional connectivity. He highlighted the role of developing the internet cable network from this perspective.

Speakers at the event included parliamentarians from Argentina, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Namibia and Pakistan.

On the sidelines of the forum, the Deputy Speaker held meetings with Chengetai Masango, the head of the United Nations Secretariat for the Internet Governance Forum, and Sally Wentworth, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Internet Society and Internet Society Foundation.

The sides discussed possibilities for enhancing partnership with the Internet Governance Council and organizing international events in Armenia.

Meetings with representatives of the host country’s parliament and other participants of the forum were also held.