15th anniversary of Armenia’s membership of the Council of Europe

22 May, 2016

SPEECH BY GABRIELLA BATTAINI-DRAGONI, DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Having come to Yerevan to launch the Council of Europe new Action Plan for Armenia, I certainly could not miss this special opportunity to mark, with you, the 15th anniversary of your country’s membership of our Organisation.

It was on 25 January 2001 that Armenia joined the Council of Europe. On the following day the “Yeřaguyn” – your flag – was raised in front of the Palace of Europe – our Headquarters in Strasbourg – in the presence of the then-President Robert Kocharyan. I remember well standing with some of your compatriots, watching the “Yeřaguyn” take its rightful place among the rainbow of European flags, while “Mer Hayrenik” was played.

The accession process begun in 1996 and its completion marked the recognition of Armenia’s place as a full member of the European family. It was a historical and long-awaited moment.

And that was only the beginning of the story.

By accepting the obligations and commitments that came with membership, Armenia embarked on the road to reform. Ever since, the Armenian people and the country’s authorities have been steadily sowing our shared European values into the institutional and social fabric of this nation: democracy, human rights, the rule of law.

This steady progress has been to the benefit of all Armenian citizens. And – and this is important – it is to the benefit of the Council of Europe and your fellow member states, too.

Ours is not a one way relationship: we appreciate greatly Armenia’s contribution to our Organisation’s overarching agenda of building peace and prosperity in Europe on the twin foundations of freedom and law. And today, as Europe navigates difficult times, we welcome the collaborative and constructive role you play.

We have had 15 years of sustained dialogue and co-operation. 15 years of Armenia meeting commitment after commitment. Not just the ratification of the European Convention on Human Rights, but a further 59 conventions, and a vast array of reforms, such as strengthening the human rights protection in the Constitution, boosting the independence of the judiciary, addressing corruption, as well as the challenges in the functioning of the prison system. It is a long and encouraging list.

Credit for these achievements goes to the Armenian people, and to successive governments who have remained dedicated to building a modern European State. This has been in spite of the difficulties which have presented themselves during the last decade and a half, here in Armenia and in Europe as a whole. And this determination was underlined by President Sargsyan when he addressed our Parliamentary Assembly in October 2013, during Armenia’s Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers – for which Armenia was highly praised.

Of course, after 15 years, not everything can be perfect; not every reform complete. Not yet.

There are challenges which remain and which require attention and action. Ensuring that the build up to next year’s parliamentary elections, and the holding of the elections themselves, meet European standards is one of them. Much of the new Constitution still needs to be phased in. Important reforms in the justice sector are also underway. Our Action Plan has been designed, with you, precisely to contribute to these efforts.

As we enter into the next chapter in our partnership, it is clear to me that we can do so with renewed ambition. Since arriving in Yerevan I have heard repeatedly, from almost everyone I have spoken to, that we must approach the future with the same commitment to reform as until now. We in Strasbourg wholeheartedly agree. So, as Armenia continues to strengthen its commitment to the rights and freedoms at the heart of the European ideal, let there be no doubt that the Council of Europe will remain by your side, as a willing partner and a friend.

With that thank you very much.

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