“We strive for the prompt release and reunification of all detained individuals with their families. Another key humanitarian priority is clarifying the fate of many missing persons,” said the Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly.
He emphasized that the importance of this issue for the Armenian people cannot be overstated.
“Armenia is familiar with humanitarian crises, having endured the tragic 1988 Spitak earthquake that claimed tens of thousands of lives and left hundreds of thousands homeless. Massive humanitarian aid from 113 countries proved that international solidarity and cooperation can transcend borders and political divides.
Beyond our borders, Armenian peacekeepers have served in Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Lebanon—working to protect civilians and promote stability. We will continue to build our humanitarian capacities and provide protection wherever it is needed.
In September 2023, in just a matter of days, more than 100,000 Armenians were displaced from Nagorno-Karabakh and arrived in Armenia. For a country of three million, this was an immense test of capacity and resilience.
The government of Armenia responded with compassion and determination by providing shelter, healthcare, education, and employment. This experience showed that even small nations, when guided by principles, can fulfill a humanitarian vision inspired by our highest ideals.
Humanitarian work is inseparable from our commitment to peace. On August 8, 2025, in Washington, with the participation of the U.S. President, the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a joint declaration marking a major step toward ending decades of conflict and suffering.
On the same day, the foreign ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan initialed the text of the 'Agreement on Peace and Establishment of Interstate Relations',” Simonyan noted.
He added that, as a result of the Washington meeting, Armenia will cooperate with the United States and other mutually agreed third parties to implement the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) initiative.
Simonyan said the TRIPP infrastructure project aligns with Armenia’s vision of becoming a “Crossroads of Peace”, ensuring uninterrupted regional connectivity through the development of railways, highways, pipelines, power lines, and communication cables linking Armenia, Azerbaijan, and neighboring countries.
“We know Armenia is not alone in the struggle for a more humane world. From Ukraine to Gaza, Sudan to Haiti, we are witnessing humanitarian crises unfold before our eyes. Civilians—women, children, the elderly—continue to bear the brunt of suffering.
These tragedies are an urgent reminder that our duty is to protect human dignity. We believe human rights are universal and their protection must never be selective,” said the Speaker.
In September 2023, following a nine-month blockade and the ethnic cleansing of the Armenian population in Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan detained former Artsakh presidents Arkadi Ghukasyan, Bako Sahakyan, and Arayik Harutyunyan, as well as former state minister Ruben Vardanyan, foreign minister David Babayan, and other former officials. The false charges they face could lead to life imprisonment. On January 17, a politically motivated trial began in Baku against the former Artsakh leaders.
