Armenian MP Sona Ghazaryan, speaking at the annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg, highlighted the alarming normalization of force, the decline of democratic institutions, and the rise of extreme nationalism and populism.

She noted that, beyond security concerns, Armenia faces daily attempts to distort history and cultural identity.

"Europe and its neighboring regions are experiencing crises that echo the dark chapters of history. The post-WWII international order, built to promote peace and stability, is now under immense pressure. War has returned to Europe and beyond, shaking the very foundations of security and cooperation. We are witnessing the unsettling normalization of force, a decline in democratic institutions, and a surge in extreme nationalism and populism—developments that threaten the shared values safeguarding peace in our societies.

These crises are further exacerbated by the spread of hate speech and disinformation, often driven by the political manipulation of history. Armenia deeply understands these challenges. In addition to security concerns, we face ongoing attempts to distort our history and cultural identity. The misuse of history to push divisive agendas threatens the peaceful coexistence we all strive for. Denying historical realities or manipulating history to justify territorial claims against neighbors is unacceptable. History should serve as a foundation for truth and mutual understanding, paving the way for reconciliation rather than fueling misleading and divisive narratives.

Another critical issue I want to highlight is the inclusion of hate speech in state-sponsored history textbooks, which fosters aggression, intolerance, and racism. When educational resources are exploited to shape biased historical narratives, they undermine peace and reinforce harmful stereotypes. It is essential to combat this dangerous trend by promoting accurate and balanced historical education that upholds diversity and rejects all forms of hate and discrimination. Preventing ethnic cleansing, hate-driven conflicts, and crimes against humanity requires a commitment to truthful historical discourse.

Identifying these challenges is only the beginning. Our responsibility now is to find solutions together. Building a culture of peace starts with innovative, citizen-focused education that encourages young people to critically analyze history rather than passively accept it. This demands continuous efforts and collaboration to develop educational systems that reinforce democracy and the concept of 'living together.' Armenia remains committed to this mission and supports initiatives that prioritize historical truth," Ghazaryan stated.