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On June 13-15 June, at the Conference on Interfaith dialogue of the Inter-Parliamentary Union going on in Marrakesh, the member of the RA NA delegation, the member of the NA Civil Contract Faction Heriknaz Tigranyan gave a speech.

“Dear colleagues,

First of all, let me thank our Moroccan hosts for the excellent organization of this very important conference.

I am representing the Republic of Armenia, a country, which was the first in the world to proclaim Christianity as a state religion. I am underscoring this fact within the context of our conference to state that the respect for human rights and their protection is supra-national and supra-religious. It is a universal value.

The rule of law – equality of everybody before the law is the main pillar and one of the basic principles of the legal state.

Unfortunately, we see that some states don't respect the rule of law, don't even implement the decisions of the international institutions, and all this does not entail any consequences and responsibility. In my view this is an impermissible double standard and retreat from democracy.

In particular, the International Court of Justice applied an interim measure towards Azerbaijan by forcing to open the Lachin corridor. Four months have passed and this decision is not implemented. Moreover, Azerbaijan installed a checkpoint on the Lachin corridor, thus fully controlling it and blocking the lifeline of 120,000 people in Nagorno Karabakh, and creating a humanitarian disaster.

Azerbaijan considers itself above the international law and justice, neglecting also the clear calls of the international community on demanding to open the corridor.

At present the world, including our region, is facing new challenges. Since the world justifiably focuses on the war in Ukraine, Azerbaijan seizes the opportunity and continues its aggressive policy of territorial claims towards Armenia's sovereign territory. Over the last two years Azerbaijan has initiated military provocations on a regular basis and occupied 150kms of our state territory.

This is a blatant violation of international law.

Colleagues, the authoritarian system is challenging democracy, which should not be tolerated, and the aggressor must be restrained.

Thank you for your kind attention,” Heriknaz Tigranyan noted.