Statement in response to the report by the Director of the ODIHR delivered by Ambassador Andranik Hovhannisyan at the 1558th meeting of the Permanent Council

19 March, 2026

Mr. Chair,

Armenia warmly welcomes Ms. Maria Telalian, Director of ODIHR, to the Permanent Council and expresses its appreciation for her thoughtful and substantive address. My delegation thanks ODIHR for presenting its annual report and recognizes the breadth and significance of its work under exceptionally challenging circumstances.

At the outset, we would also like to thank ODIHR for the extensive and fruitful cooperation undertaken in 2025. Sustained engagement across key areas of democratic reform, including legislative review, parliamentary integrity, administrative justice, and migration governance has made a tangible contribution to Armenia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions.

Looking ahead, Armenia welcomes the continuation of this partnership into 2026, including in areas such as gender equality in political life, anti-corruption, and human rights capacity-building.

At the center of Armenia’s cooperation with the ODIHR in 2026, certainly, are the parliamentary elections scheduled for 7 June. Armenia attaches great importance to election observation by ODIHR and the broader OSCE community and views such engagement as a reflection of its commitment to democratic accountability and transparency. In this context, we would like to inform that the relevant invitation for election observation has already been circulated.

Madam Director,

We concur with the assessment that the human dimension is crucial for the relevance of the OSCE. We view this not merely as a reassurance, but as a shared responsibility. We reaffirm our strong commitment to the OSCE’s comprehensive concept of security, in which respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law is not a complement to peace and stability, but rather its very foundation.

It is therefore with great concern that we have taken note of your assessment that the human rights situation across the OSCE region is showing clear signs of further deterioration. This trend may continue to have direct implications for the indivisible security for all participating States. Democratic backsliding must be reversed. We firmly believe that the human dimension should remain a priority in our collective efforts, including within the ongoing discussions on OSCE reform.

In this regard, the role of your Office, its expertise, demand-driven approach, and capacity to foster dialogue between states and societies constitute an asset of lasting value, not only in responding to current challenges, but also in building resilience to prevent future crises.

Mr. Chair,

Among the many important activities carried out by ODIHR, we would like to highlight its efforts to combat hate crimes. History has repeatedly demonstrated that violence is often preceded or accompanied by hate speech that fuels hostility and prejudice against ethnic, religious, or racial groups, and may condone or justify violence against them. ODIHR’s capacity to identify such early warning signals is essential for addressing risks before they escalate into full-scale violence.

We would also like to emphasize ODIHR’s contribution to addressing anti-Christian narratives and ensuring that the security concerns of Christian communities receive adequate attention. No community should fall outside the scope of ODIHR’s mandate. Its work in documenting, analyzing, and responding to religiously motivated hatred across all communities remains vital to upholding the founding values of this Organization. Anti-Christian hate crimes, Antisemitism, and Islamophobia have no place in any democratic society.

Mr. Chair,

We value our partnership with the ODIHR and remain committed to further strengthening and expanding it.

Thank you.

MFA RA
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