Alen Simonyan's speech at the 19th plenary session of the Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly. President of the Assembly Enam Mayara for the invitation to perform at this prestigious event. Mediterranean The Parliamentary Assembly is a unique platform, as it addresses issues such as the fight against terrorism, strengthening of peace, resolution, economic integration, and many other urgent issues that the world faces today.
Armenia has deep civilizational relations with the Mediterranean nations, which have been established on the basis of historical ties between centuries. With its vibrant presence in the whole region, the Armenian Diaspora has served a bridge for cultural exchange and strong relations in the whole region.
Our country is not a member of the Mediterranean Union, but cooperates with the organization within the framework of sustainable development and regional stability initiatives.
Guided by economic, cultural and geopolitical interests, we are actively cooperating with the countries of the region.
Armenia is one of the founding members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, whose activities are often crucified with the activities of the Mediterranean Union. Armenia is in favor of a closer cooperation between the BSEC and its partners. Using the opportunity to be here, I would like to express our desire to become a partner of our Mediterranean Parliamentary Assembly.
As a country that has no access to the sea, the Eastern and Western borders are blocked for more than three decades, our country is very well aware of the importance of open borders and completely operating transport infrastructure.
The elimination of political barriers to free movement of people, cargo and services is needed to integrate global markets.
Geopolitical crises in the field of security, supply chains, the growth of food and fuel prices, as well as climate change, significantly all these factors obscure the prospects for development in the group of our countries.
Partners, today the challenges facing the world, including our region, are serious, and they cannot be overestimated. Armenia is facing serious humanitarian and security problems.
The constant threat of force affects the health of any society.
It is clear to us that we can only achieve stability and progress through peace alone. To this end, Armenia is actively seeking for stable and long peace in the region.
As a cornerstone of the peace agenda, the Armenian government presented the "Peace Crossroad" project aimed at creating new infrastructure in the South Caucasus and improving existing infrastructure.
This project was intended not to compete with other regional logistics projects, but to supplement them.
The aim of the project is to create new links between all countries in the region, based on the concept of comprehensive accessibility. Its principles are that all infrastructure, highways and railways, pipelines, cables and power lines will operate under the sovereign jurisdiction of countries whose territory pass through. Each country will protect the infrastructure through its state institutions and will ensure the border and customs control of vehicles, cargo and people through its territory. The whole infrastructure will be used for international and internal transportation. Countries will use infrastructure based on reciprocity and equality and according to these principles, border and customs control will be enforced through the Collective Agreement.
From the Gulf of the Persian or Arabian, uninterrupted communication from the Mediterranean Sea, as the missing railways and highways are restored. The Republic of Armenia reaffirms its commitment to regional peace and stability. Negotiations withdrawal will give their fruits.
We strive to become a constructive participant in the mechanisms of mediterranean cooperation and are ready to work with all partners to effectively satisfy the needs and priorities of our countries for the benefit of general well-being.
