Armenian MP urges equal platform in PACE debates

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armen Gevorgyan, a member of Armenia’s National Assembly delegation, spoke during a debate at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on “The Council of Europe and the European Political Community: synergies and complementarity.” He stressed the need to address not only threats to democracy, but also institutions' capacity to produce tangible outcomes in an increasingly conflict-prone world.

Gevorgyan emphasized the importance of establishing a modern platform for cooperation among equals, regardless of European Union membership status.

He noted that since the launch of the European Political Community, the global landscape has become more polarized and tense.

“Instead of lasting peace and increasing prosperity, we are witnessing a surge in risks, conflicts, and geopolitical shocks. The world is not more peaceful, and even friendship has become politically challenging in many places,” he said.

Gevorgyan underlined that citizens rightly expect substance, not just structures. “The issue is not the absence of institutions, but their failure to deliver positive results.”

He outlined four key expectations from the cooperation between the Council of Europe and the European Political Community:

First, he emphasized the need to preserve the pan-European system for human rights protection. “The Convention-based human rights framework is the Council of Europe’s greatest achievement. Its erosion must stop immediately, and its preservation should be a strategic mission.”

Second, he called for the partnership to help counter growing authoritarianism on the continent. “The choice is clear: either become a principled and determined platform to confront this trend or continue harmful compromises that weaken democracy.”

Third, he praised the inclusive format of equal dialogue that transcends EU membership status. Such dialogue, he noted, can help candidate countries move closer to accession and offer non-members a realistic vision of the European dream based on cooperation, solidarity, and shared values.

Fourth, Gevorgyan underscored that peace must be the foundation of all cooperation. “In a world lacking peace, we must restore it through diplomacy, rule of law, trust, and responsible leadership. In our regions, peace must also be built through geopolitical stability, dignified neighborly dialogue, mutually beneficial cooperation, and, most importantly, credible international guarantees and effective national security mechanisms.”