Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the opening ceremony of the 4th Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. Leaders and heads of delegations of more than four dozen countries are present at the event.

The guests at the summit were first welcomed by the Prime Minister of Iceland, Katrín Jakobsdóttir, and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejčinović Burić. After posing for official photo ceremony, the opening ceremony of the summit took place, in the framework of which French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Rishi Sunak and others delivered speeches.

Next, Prime Minister Pashinyan participated in the round-table discussion on the topic of democracy.

The summit will continue on May 17.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech at the 4th Council of Europe summit in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland. The Prime Minister, in particular, noted:

“Ladies and Gentlemen,

Based on our own experience we can say that war is the biggest threat to democracy. For a long time, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict served as an excuse for the lack of democracy in Armenia.

In 2018, our velvet revolution provided great democratic developments in Armenia, but in September 2020 Azerbaijan attacked Nagorno-Karabakh, and Armenia had to get involved in the war. Many still think that the cause of the war was Armenia’s aspiration for democracy in the region, where democracy may be viewed with suspicion.

On November 9, 2020, I signed a trilateral ceasefire agreement, which became a reason for attacks on the state institutions, the Government and the National Assembly, because the unleashed war was apparently also aimed at changing the government in Armenia.

But we were able to maintain the country's democracy. Then we decided to conduct early elections to safeguard public accord. On May 12, 2021, two days after my and National Assembly's resignation came into effect for the purpose of the elections, Azerbaijan invaded the territory of Armenia.

If we diverted from our way to democracy at that time, we would have lost our statehood, but we provided the internationally recognized free and democratic elections, and shaped the agenda of peace.

But our agenda of peace was also attacked. In November, 2021 and in September 2022, Azerbaijan again invaded the territory of Armenia.

On October 6, 2022, with support of the French President Macron and President of EU Council Michel, we reached an agreement with the President of Azerbaijan that we normalize our relations on the basis of 1991 Almaty Declaration, according to which administrative borders of the former soviet Armenia and soviet Azerbaijan would become our state borders.

Three days ago with the mediation of the president of the European Council, we made a step further emphasizing that Armenia recognizes Azerbaijan's territory of 86.6 thousand square kilometers, and Azerbaijan recognizes the territory of Armenia of 29.8 thousand square kilometers.

But as a result of illegal blockade of Lachin Corridor, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh have been under siege for 5 months and are facing humanitarian crisis. To send an international fact-finding mission to Lachin Corridor and Nagorno-Karabakh is of high priority today, and to start Baku-Stepanakert negotiations aimed at providing security and human rights for the Armenians in Nagorno-Karabakh under the international mechanism, is of vital importance.

Assisting in addressing these issues, the Council of Europe will promote democracy and stability in the South Caucasus”.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with Romanian President Klaus Iohannis within the framework of the 4th Council of Europe Summit in Reykjavik, the capital of Iceland.

The interlocutors discussed issues related to the processes taking place in the South Caucasus region. The Prime Minister referred to the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh resulted by the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor.

The sides exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe Tiny Kox within the framework of the 4th Council of Europe Summit.

The interlocutors referred to the process of the democratic reforms implemented in Armenia and the plans in that direction for the near future. The Prime Minister noted that the strengthening of democracy is a strategy for the Armenian government and our country will consistently move in that direction.

Tiny Kox welcomed the Armenian government's policy and eagerness in this direction.

Issues related to the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh resulted by Azerbaijan's illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor were discussed.

Prime Minister Pashinyan had a short meeting with Prime Minister of Luxembourg Xavier Bettel.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with Prime Minister of Malta Robert Abela within the framework of the 4th Summit of the Council of Europe.

The interlocutors discussed various issues of mutual interest.

Prime Minister Pashinyan presented the situation created as a result of the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno Karabakh caused by the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor by Azerbaijan and attached importance to the continuous and consistent response of the international community.

The sides also exchanged views on the development of relations between Armenia and Malta and the deepening of trade and economic ties.

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Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan held short meetings with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Latvian President Egils Levits, and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, President of Poland Andrzej Duda within the framework of the 4th Council of Europe Summit.

Various issues of mutual interest were discussed.

The Prime Minister's working visit to the Republic of Iceland is over.