Today, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in the plenary session of the official opening of the second “For Democracy” summit, the Prime Minister’s Office of Armenia informs.
The summit is held at the initiative of the President of the United States of America, Joe Biden, in an online format.
The Prime Minister made a statement. Most of the 3.5-minute speech was related to the blockade of Lachin, the security of Artsakh and Armenia.
The plenary session opened with welcome addresses from the leaders of the host countries, the United States, Costa Rica, the Netherlands, Korea and Zambia. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also made an opening speech.
Pashinyan’s office notes that thematic panel discussions are planned as part of the summit’s agenda, in 2021. Implementation of the commitments of the first “For Democracy” summit, challenges to democracy, as well as democratic values: ensuring governance accountability, rule of law, protection of human rights, freedom of the press, inclusive economic growth and other topics.
Leaders of 120 countries were invited to participate in the summit. Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iran, and Russia are not on the list of invitees this year either.
Today, the Russian President’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, stated that the “For Democracy” summit organized by Biden is an attempt to teach others a lesson, and it is the sovereign duty of countries to participate in that lesson. “Moscow does not consider that conference a serious event,” said Peskov.