ArmInfo.RA Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan during his speech at the 39th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva spoke about the recent fundamental democratic changes in Armenia and about the vision of the future, the press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry informs.
He recalled that in April hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of cities and towns of Armenia to peacefully protest against the authorities and the entrenched negative practices undermining justice and the rule of law. They claimed direct and vocal participation in public affairs. "Most conspicuously, public protests in Armenia have demonstrated the strength of our civil society. They have demonstrated the evolution of the public of Armenia to a considerably high level of political maturity and legal literacy. The transformation in Armenia was of a strictly domestic nature and was motivated by distinctly domestic realities. It was carried out by the people, and for the people, having women and youth in particular at the forefront of the change. Armenia is proud of a vibrant and engaged generation fully in charge of their rights and freedoms", Mnatsakanyan said.
At the same time he stressed that following the peaceful mass rallies and equally peaceful transition of power, a new Government was voted in. Over the past four months, empowered with the overwhelming support and mandate of the people, the Government embarked on the implementation of the reform agenda aimed at anchoring resilient democratic institutions, the protection and promotion of human rights and freedoms, strong and independent judiciary, the rule of law, resolutely fighting corruption and promoting equal and fair conditions for all in economic and social life.
At the same time, the Armenian Foreign Minister stated that conducting genuinely free and fair elections are equally at the top of this Government's priorities. "In about a week's time Armenia will hold municipal elections for the capital city of Yerevan. The Government, the Parliament and all relevant institutions are preparing the necessary legal changes and institutional capacities for the conduct of nationwide parliamentary elections, which will consolidate the democratic transformation of Armenia and will accurately reflect the current political landscape. Implementation of all these reforms are not an easy job, there are challenges to face, of course. However, at the heart of the reforms is the resolute political will of the Government, reinforced by the strong mandate from the people. In all those priorities Armenia successfully and effectively cooperates with all its international partners", the Minister stressed. Finally, he reaffirmed the commitment of the new government to complying with all the commitments in the field of human rights.