Tuesday, April 20 2021 19:54

ArmInfo.RA NA Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan made a speech at Euronest PA 9th Session, as the press service of the Armenian parliament informs, the speech reads as  follows: 

<I am pleased to address the 9th Ordinary Session of the Euronest  Parliamentary Assembly. From the very beginning of its establishment,  the Euronest has been playing, and I hope will continue to play a  uniting role between the European Union and Eastern Partner  countries, thus contributing to the promotion of the values that  constitute the cornerstones of the Eastern Partnership.

I firmly believe that we shall continue to foster our common goals  respecting and fairly evaluating vital interests and priorities of  each member state of the Assembly.  I would like to underscore the  importance of Armenia's cooperation with the European Union, in  particular, within the framework of the Comprehensive and Enhanced  Partnership Agreement between the Republic of Armenia and the  European Union, which fully entered into force on March 1, 2021. The  Agreement elevates the bilateral relations between Armenia and the  European Union to a new, higher level. It is an inclusive document,  which creates a solid legal basis for the partnership between the two  sides, outlines the framework of cooperation in various areas,  ranging from justice, security, economy, agriculture, and  infrastructure to the environment and climate, education, science,  culture, and health.

We are confident, that the effective implementation of the CEPA will  bring tangible results for our citizens through the promotion of  democracy, enhancement of the political, economic and social  stability via extensive reforms, which will considerably improve the  quality of life of our citizens.

In this regard, the Parliament of Armenia will bring its crucial  contribution not only by supporting the executive bodies in  implementing the Agreement, but also by playing its oversight role.  We have already launched a Twinning project together with Greek and  Italian Parliaments in order to build institutional capacity for  proper oversight of CEPA agenda.

I would to take the opportunity and highlight the principles  enshrined in CEPA, which reaffirms EU's commitments to support the  efforts and approaches of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship, based  on the principles of non-use of force, equal rights and people's  right to self-determination.

Nevertheless, just six months ago we witnessed a brutal violation of  the principle of non- use of force by Azerbaijan: on 27 September  2020 Azerbaijan unleashed a large-scale military offensive against  Artsakh and ultimately Armenia. Despite many facts proving that  Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh, directly supported by Turkey  and the latter's affiliated foreign terrorist fighters had a  pre-planned manner, Azerbaijan still cynically blames Armenia in  provoking the war, where they demonstrated unprecedented violence and  committed massive war crimes.The 44-day aggressive war resulted in  huge human losses and immeasurable material damage. Taking the  chance, I would like to thank all the MEPs, who stood on the side of  truth condemning actions of Azerbaijani side.  Consistent and  deliberate violations of the November 9 Trilateral Statement by  Azerbaijan continue to seriously undermine a full implementation of  the Statement and poses new challenges for regional peace and  security.

The obligation to release and repatriate the prisoners of war, as  well as of the hostages and other detainees, is unequivocally  stipulated in the November 9 Statement. However, the Azerbaijani side  continues to disregard its own commitments under various pretexts.   It was also stated by distinguished members of EP Marina Kaljurand,  Andrey Kovatchev and Zeljana Zovko that Azerbaijani government has  failed to comply with the interim measures of the European Court of  Human Rights which ordered Azerbaijan to provide information on the  conditions of detention of the detainees, their state of health, as  well as the measures taken to return them. I want to make it clear  for our European partners that such actions of Azerbaijan create  serious risks for opening the regional infrastructures and creating  stability in the South Caucasus.

Moreover, Azerbaijani government continues its policy of  Armenophobia, which they have been feeding their citizens for  decades. Just a few days ago Azerbaijan has demonstrated another  despicable example of hatred in the so-called Park of Military  Trophies by displaying helmets of the Armenian soldiers killed during  the war.  Xenophobic and hateful behaviour like this clearly  demonstrates that Azerbaijan is trying to resolve the contentious  issues through the barbaric and uncivilized means.  We urge our  colleagues to condemn Azerbaijan's unlawful and reprehensible  actions.  The return of the prisoners of war and other detained  persons has to be completed as soon as possible - without any  preconditions and artificially created obstacles.  To sum up, I want  to state that Nagorno Karabakh conflict isn't still solved, as the  right of the people of Nagorno Karabakh to self-determination is not  realized. We are confident to continue the negotiations of the  peaceful settlement of the conflict under the auspices of Minsk group  Co-Chairmanship and call all our international partners to support  the works of this format.

Dear colleagues, Coming back to Armenian domestic affairs I would  like to inform that political parties represented in the Parliament  came to agreement to hold snap parliamentary elections on June 20. We  have necessary political will to organize free and fair elections, as  it was in 2018, where all the citizens of Armenia can demonstrate  their will and form democratically elected government, which is the  only legitimate way of power. I hope, that European Parliament  together with other international partners will be present to conduct  both long-term and short-term observation of elections. Despite all  the difficulties caused by the COVID 19 and the war democratic  changes in Armenia are irreversible''.