Statement by Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan at the 1555th meeting of the OSCE PC in response to the Address of Mihai Popșoi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe

26 February, 2026

Mr. Chair,

Armenia warmly welcomes His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mihai Popșoi of Moldova and thanks him for his comprehensive and forward-looking address, delivered in his capacity as President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe. We congratulate Moldova on assuming this important responsibility and commend the clarity with which the Minister has outlined the priorities.

Moldova has assumed the chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers at a moment of extraordinary complexity for the European security architecture. The motto of the Moldovan Presidency "For a Europe of Peace and Resilience" could not be more timely or resonant.

We welcome the Moldovan Presidency's focus on strengthening democracy, safeguarding human rights, upholding the rule of law and advancing the New Democratic Pact for Europe - an initiative launched by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

The emphasis on reinforcing democratic resilience, protecting judicial independence, promoting social cohesion and strengthening collective responses to disinformation, information manipulation and interference is particularly timely. These priorities strike at the heart of what both the Council of Europe and the OSCE are confronting today.

We should underline that in many respects, the challenges faced by the Council of Europe are mirrored within the OSCE. In a period marked by geopolitical instability and the erosion of trust in institutions, both organisations are natural partners in the efforts of strengthening multilateralism. We encourage the strongest possible coordination between them to restore confidence in cooperative security. Synergy, rather than duplication, must guide our efforts.

Armenia remains firmly committed to the shared values that underpin both organisations. In that spirit, we attach particular importance to the protection of human rights, the strengthening of democratic institutions and the promotion of dialogue as the only sustainable path toward peace and stability.

Dear colleagues,

Allow me also to highlight the excellent bilateral relations between Armenia and Moldova, including frequent high-level meetings and exchanges. Our two countries share a long-standing friendship built on mutual respect, constructive political dialogue and growing cooperation in multilateral fora. We value Moldova's principled engagement in advancing democratic reforms and resilience and we look forward to further deepening our partnership.

Your Excellency,

As Moldova holds the helm of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers through May 2026, Armenia pledges its full support. We wish the Moldovan Presidency every success in fulfilling its ambitious agenda and reaffirm our readiness to work closely together, here in Vienna and in Strasbourg, for a more secure, democratic and resilient Europe.

I thank you.

MFA RA
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