On February 25, Alen Simonyan, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, stated that international humanitarian law had failed in Nagorno-Karabakh during his speech at the opening of the 4th session of the EU-Armenia Parliamentary Partnership Committee in Yerevan.

Simonyan thanked Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) for consistently monitoring developments in the region, acknowledging Armenia’s challenges, and condemning Azerbaijan’s actions in Nagorno-Karabakh. He highlighted the forced displacement of over 100,000 Armenians, the occupation of Armenia’s sovereign territory, human rights violations, the detention of Armenian prisoners in Azerbaijan, and the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious heritage. However, he lamented that international responses had been insufficient to prevent these violations.

Expressing optimism about future EU-Armenia cooperation, Simonyan emphasized strong political will and public support. "We have opened a new page in our history; Armenia has chosen the democratic path of development," he stated, reaffirming Armenia’s alignment with European values and its commitment to strengthening democracy and defending its sovereignty.

Simonyan acknowledged the difficulties of this path, noting the rapidly changing global landscape that requires difficult decisions. He emphasized Armenia’s geographical position at the crossroads of civilizations and its aspiration for open borders and regional partnerships. The Crossroads of Peace initiative, launched by the Armenian government, aims to enhance regional transport and communication based on sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, and reciprocity.

He also outlined Armenia’s balanced policy approach with regional neighbors and global powers, focusing on diversification in security, the economy, energy, and other sectors. Simonyan expressed gratitude for the EU’s financial support for Armenia’s reform agenda and noted the growing cooperation between the two sides.

Key developments included the launch of dialogue on visa liberalization, Armenia’s inclusion in the European Instrument for Peace program, and the extension of the EU civilian mission on Armenia’s borders for two years, which has helped reduce border incidents and mitigate escalation risks.

Simonyan concluded by recalling that on February 13, Armenia’s National Assembly passed a law in its first reading to initiate the country’s accession process to the European Union, describing it as a "genuine demonstration of Armenian citizens' determination to join the European community."