On January 24, Armen Gevorgyan, a member of the RA delegation to the PACE and the main speaker on the issues of local and regional authorities in the PACE, gave a speech on “The Reykjavik Summit of the Council of Europe: United around Values in the Face of Extraordinary Challenges” during the discussion.
“Mr. President,
Today, many countries face a difficult choice between democracy and security. In such a situation, it is noticeable that our citizens have little expectations from the Council of Europe.
I think we should think together about why we got into this situation. Part of the reason, in my estimation, is that the Council of Europe, which is supposed to be a bastion of actual democratic values and freedoms, has come to tolerate some conversion of some of its members into hybrid, oppressive regimes. In such states, we witness the so-called legitimate political competition through political persecution and elections, and democratic governance has become a majority dictatorship. The Council of Europe is gradually becoming a platform for authoritarian regimes to legitimize their existence. By the way, a regular list of these states can easily be found in the Democracy Index published by the Economist.
We must break this chain of damnable compromises and double standards. For that, it is necessary to exclude any deviation from the established rules and to forget about shameful political expediency. To join the community of free and democratic states, one must follow its rules, and it must be a conscious choice of each member. We should not ask anyone to stay, nor should we ask anyone to join us.
Mr. President,
At the same time, the 43rd Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the 10th World Forum for Democracy showed that local democracy remains the basis for democratic governance. Because of that democracy, people fully appreciate and accept the value and suitability of their participation in public and political life. This is crucial for the future of democracy and democratic governance. That is why the topic of development and strengthening of local democracy should become one of the main priorities of the 4th Council of Europe summit.
Mr. President,
In closing, my sincere hope is that after the 4th Summit, our organization can regain its relevance and follow through. “Cooperation with a stronger, principled, and decisive partner, who is steadfast in his principles, is always more effective, especially when the “red lines” of human rights, democracy, and the rule of law are brighter and the same for everyone,” Armen noted. Gevorgyan.
