Friday, September 14 2018 12:56

ArmInfo.RA Foreign Minister Zohrab Mnatsakanyan during his speech at the 39th session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva spoke about the recent fundamental  democratic changes in Armenia and about the vision of the future, the  press service of the Armenian Foreign Ministry informs. 

He recalled that in April hundreds of thousands of people took to the  streets of cities and towns of Armenia to peacefully protest against  the authorities and the entrenched negative practices undermining  justice and the rule of law. They claimed direct and vocal  participation in public affairs. "Most conspicuously, public protests  in Armenia have demonstrated the strength of our civil society. They  have demonstrated the evolution of the public of Armenia to a  considerably high level of political maturity and legal literacy.   The transformation in Armenia was of a strictly domestic nature and  was motivated by distinctly domestic realities. It was carried out by  the people, and for the people, having women and youth in particular  at the forefront of the change. Armenia is proud of a vibrant and  engaged generation fully in charge of their rights and freedoms",  Mnatsakanyan said.

At the same time he stressed that following the peaceful mass rallies  and equally peaceful transition of power, a new Government was voted  in. Over the past four months, empowered with the overwhelming  support and mandate of the people, the Government embarked on the  implementation of the reform agenda aimed at anchoring resilient  democratic institutions, the protection and promotion of human rights  and freedoms, strong and independent judiciary, the rule of law,  resolutely fighting corruption and promoting equal and fair  conditions for all in economic and social life. 

At the same time, the Armenian Foreign Minister stated that  conducting genuinely free and fair elections are equally at the top  of this Government's priorities. "In about a week's time Armenia will  hold municipal elections for the capital city of Yerevan. The  Government, the Parliament and all relevant institutions are  preparing the necessary legal changes and institutional capacities  for the conduct of nationwide parliamentary elections, which will  consolidate the democratic transformation of Armenia and will  accurately reflect the current political landscape. Implementation of  all these reforms are not an easy job, there are challenges to face,  of course. However, at the heart of the reforms is the resolute  political will of the Government, reinforced by the strong mandate  from the people. In all those priorities Armenia successfully and  effectively cooperates with all its international partners", the  Minister stressed.  Finally, he reaffirmed the commitment of the new  government to complying with all the commitments in the field of  human rights.