ArmInfo. During the parliamentary elections in 2021, Armenia expressed the will of the people, reaffirming its commitment to the course of reforms and democracy, and for this purpose, Armenia needs a responsible, independent, pluralistic, reliable media. On May 19, speaking at the "Armenian Democracy" Forum, EU Ambassador to Armenia Ms. Andrea Wiktorin stated this.
In this vein, she underlined that the EU defends the freedom and pluralism of the media as the basis of modern democracy, which provides an opportunity for open and free debate. At the same time, Ms. Wiktorin also pointed out that Armenia needs a strong civil society, which is a key component of a democratic system. "The active involvement of civil society in the development of policy and governance reforms is important for Armenia in terms of achieving political transformations," the Ambassador stressed. However, as she noted, Armenian civil society is being condemned. Activists and civil society organizations that promote democratic values and human rights have been the target of attack and condemnation. <The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is not selective. You cannot choose only what you like. You must have all freedoms without prejudice and restrictions, such as racial, national, social, religious, skin color, and others. Therefore, we all should support the human rights defenders who are active in this country. We should have comprehensive approaches to the issue of ensuring human rights. We have a need for a legal framework, for the application of the law. Everyone is equal before the law," she said. She also noted the importance of compromises, public discussions, joint search for peaceful solutions, excluding various slogans and the language of aggression. <Democracy is a continuous process. Within the framework of the CEPA (Partnership Agreement), the EU assists Armenia in strengthening democracy, the rule of law and human rights in order to create together a favorable, safe and peaceful environment for all the inhabitants of Armenia>, she concluded. It should be noted that law enforcement officers did not let opposition MPs and journalists into the "Armenian Democracy" forum . The parliamentarians said they intended to present the real situation with democracy in the country at the forum. After negotiations with law enforcement officers, the latter managed to enter the hotel building, but they were forbidden to enter the hall where the event itself was held