World without peace needs to restore peace - Armenian MP

ArmInfo.  In a world where there is no peace, it must be restored through diplomacy, the rule of law, trust and responsible leadership. This was stated by Armen Gevorgyan, a member of the Armenian delegation to PACE, a member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia from the opposition faction "Armenia", former Deputy Prime Minister, during the  discussions on the topic "Interrelationship between the Council of  Europe and the European Political Community" in Strasbourg within the  framework of the autumn session of PACE.

According to him, now is the time to discuss not only the pressure on  democracy, but also the ability of institutions to form real results  in a rapidly changing and conflict-prone world. Since the creation of  the European Political Community, Gevorgyan emphasized, the situation  in the world has become more tense and polarized. "Instead of stable  peace and growing prosperity, we are seeing increasing risks,  conflicts and geopolitical upheavals. The world has not become  calmer, and in many places even friendly relations have become  politically complex. This is deeply worrying. Institutions are  struggling to cope with complexity, support transitions and, most  importantly, prevent disagreements and conflicts. As we expand  institutional platforms, we must ensure that they are not only  inclusive but also effective in ensuring peace and prosperity.  Citizens have the right to expect not only structure but also  substance. And the problem is not the absence of these structures,  but that they no longer generate positive results," the  parliamentarian stressed.

He added that the cooperation under discussion raises a number of key  expectations. Firstly, the Council of Europe's most valuable  achievement is the pan-European system of conventions in the field of  human rights protection. The ongoing destruction of this system, as  Gevorkyan emphasized, must be stopped, and its preservation must  become a strategic task. Secondly, it is extremely important that  this cooperation contributes to reversing the growing authoritarian  tendencies on the continent. "The choice is clear: either take a  principled and decisive stand against this trend, or continue with  painful compromises that only weaken the democratic world. Third,  this partnership offers a unique and timely format for honest  dialogue between equals, regardless of EU membership status. This  inclusive environment provides an opportunity for constructive  engagement and mutual recognition. Such dialogue can bring EU  candidates closer to their goal, and for others, it can contribute to  a more realistic vision of the European dream based on cooperation,  solidarity and common values. Fourth, any cooperation must be based  on peace. In a world where peace is absent, it must be restored  through diplomacy, the rule of law, trust and responsible leadership.  In the case of our regions, where there is a risk of renewed  conflict, peace must also be built on geopolitical stability,  dignified dialogue with neighbors, beneficial regional cooperation  and, most importantly, on functioning international guarantees and  reliable national security mechanisms," the member of the Armenian  delegation to PACE noted.

He also pointed out the historical necessity to continue being the  architects of peace. "I hope that today's discussion will not only be  a moment of reflection, but also a moment of reaffirming our  commitments," concluded the deputy of the National Assembly of the  Republic of Armenia.