PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenian National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, speaking in Istanbul at the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, said that achieving genuine reconciliation with Azerbaijan requires the release of 19 Armenians held in Azerbaijan and their reunification with their families, while the fate of other missing persons must be clarified.
He also stated that Armenia is ready to deepen relations with Turkey.
"It is a great honor for me to accept Turkey's invitation and to address the 152nd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union on behalf of the National Assembly of Armenia. I would like to note that the importance of the theme under discussion - 'Nurturing hope, securing peace and ensuring justice for future generations' - can hardly be overstated. Allow me to state an obvious truth: a thriving present and future are built on the foundations of hope, peace, and justice.
In Armenia's case, it is precisely this idea that has shaped our policy and guided our actions. We have sought a future where everyone has equal opportunities for social and economic well-being.
But who merely imagines a better future, and who actually builds it? Future generations cannot construct the world that will be handed down to them. At best, they can only trust us to act wisely on their behalf.
Hope has sustained our pursuit of justice and our ability to trust. Our actions today must serve to strengthen that trust. Future generations must be confident that the peace we are building today is sustainable.
Make no mistake: the fractures in our world are deep and serious. We are deeply concerned about the situation in Iran, and my prayers are with the people of Iran. The crisis in Lebanon must not be overlooked either. Undoubtedly, the challenge before us is immense. But who, if not us, has the strength and moral obligation to heal our world?
Armenia has fully embraced this responsibility.
Following the agreement signed in 2025 by the leaders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and the U.S., peace has been established in our region. This is indeed a major achievement. However, our vision is broader. We have invited Turkey to become a partner and join us in shaping the fabric of peace. To this end, we are ready to deepen relations with Turkey.
After decades of mistrust and hostility, a new phase of building confidence between Armenia and Azerbaijan has begun. Efforts to consolidate this progress are now focused on developing communications and ensuring the practical implementation of peace on the ground," the speaker said.
He noted that the implementation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project is another important milestone.
"Based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and jurisdiction, TRIPP has had the potential to promote stability, economic cooperation, and prosperity in the South Caucasus and beyond.
Encouraging signs of normalization have been evident. For the first time in years, trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan has begun to take shape. Imports of Azerbaijani goods into Armenia have become both a symbolic and practical step toward restoring economic ties. These are the dividends of peace - tangible improvements that have directly benefited our citizens.
At the same time, serious humanitarian issues persist and require resolution.
Now is the time to clarify priorities, and for the sake of future generations, they must be chosen wisely. And who are these generations? They are our children and grandchildren. It is our sacred duty to be worthy of them by leaving a legacy not of war, but of peace," Simonyan said.
The Baku court sentenced Ruben Vardanyan to 20 years in prison.
Former Nagorno-Karabakh President Arayik Harutyunyan was sentenced to life imprisonment. Former Defense Army commander Levon Mnatsakanyan and his former deputy Davit Manukyan were also sentenced to life, along with former Foreign Minister of the Artsakh Republic Davit Babayan and National Assembly Speaker Davit Ishkhanyan. Former Presidents Arkady Ghukasyan and Bako Sahakyan were sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Madat Babayan and Melikset Pashayan were sentenced to 19 years in prison, Garik Martirosyan to 18, Davit Alaverdyan and Levon Balayan to 16, while Erik Ghazaryan, Gurgen Stepanyan, and Vasily Beglaryan received 15-year sentences.
Source: PanArmenian.Net
