Council of Europe played key role in fostering faith in democratic values in Armenia – FM

Since the accession of the Republic of Armenia to the Council of Europe, the organization has played a significant role in fostering hope for democratic transformation, strengthening faith in democracy and democratic values, and ultimately embedding these values within Armenian society and statehood, Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at the winter plenary session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized that it is a great honor to deliver remarks on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Republic of Armenia’s accession to the Council of Europe.

“Today we have gathered to celebrate Armenia’s highly valued membership in the Council of Europe and to assess the significant achievements Armenia has recorded in recent years in ensuring the rule of law and in the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on the path we have traveled together, the challenges we have faced, the moments of shared resolve, and the achievements made possible through joint efforts. It is also an opportunity to jointly reflect on today’s common challenges and uncertainties, such as hybrid attacks on democracies, including malicious spread of disinformation and the weaponization of information, foreign interference in domestic democratic processes such as elections, and, last but not least, the undermining of international law and the erosion of multilateral system. All of these put our values and principles to test, and it is our shared responsibility to safeguard them in an increasingly complex and fragile international environment,” Mirzoyan stated.

According to him, the 75-year legacy of the Council of Europe as a standard-setter for 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.

“Since Armenia’s accession, the Council of Europe has played a significant role in fostering hope for democratic transformation, strengthening faith in democracy and democratic values, and ensuring their ultimate integration into Armenian society and statehood. Every reform, every ratified convention, every institutional development has represented not merely a technical change, but a tangible and practical improvement in the daily lives of ordinary citizens,” the Foreign Minister emphasized.

As Ararat Mirzoyan noted, Armenia’s accession to the European Convention on Human Rights introduced the right to apply to the European Court of Human Rights, providing a venue where citizens can find justice when domestic legal remedies are insufficient. The abolition of the death penalty guaranteed the fundamental right to life, ensuring that no individual can be sentenced to death. The establishment of the institution of the Human Rights Defender created an opportunity to raise immediate and independent alarms regarding rights violations committed by the state, providing ordinary people with a mechanism to seek the restoration of their rights without having to endure lengthy judicial proceedings.

According to the Foreign Minister, through its legal opinions, the Venice Commission has served as a supervisory body aimed at ensuring that legislative reforms comply with international standards, while the Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) applies regular monitoring pressure to introduce transparent anti-corruption laws and promote integrity within governments.