Distinguished Colleagues,

Dear Participants,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the organizers of the 13^th edition of the World Forum for bringing us together within the framework of the global dialogue on the future of democracy.

Today, when democracy faces serious challenges across different parts of the world - when public trust in sustainable development, in systems of governance, in the media, and even within societies themselves is often undermined - it is more necessary than ever to return to the values that make democracy meaningful and tangible for people.

In this very context, the initiative of the Secretary General - the New Democratic Pact is more than timely and important, and the Armenian Government fully supports it. It is noteworthy that Learning and Practicing Democracy is the first pillar of the Pact highlighting the importance of ensuring equal opportunities for democratic participation and access to rights for all through supporting formal and non-formal education initiatives that equip European citizens especially young people.

While looking ahead, it is essential to look through the history and identify the existing best practices the democratic future can be build on. Refraining from any attempt of falsification and misinterpretation of our common history can foster an environment where history education bridges cultures rather than divides them. This is successfully carried out by the Observatory on the History Teaching in Europe and Armenia firmly supports its mission to promote quality education in order to enhance the understanding of democratic culture.

It is precisely here that culture, cultural dialogue, cultural tolerance, and mutual respect for expressions of cultural identity assume a primary role.

For Armenia, democracy is not an imported political value system, but a deeply rooted civilizational choice. At the core of our state policy lies the vision of building a society endowed with a strong sense of civic responsibility - one that is grounded in human dignity, creative freedom, and inclusiveness. In other words, a society for which freedom means the ability to think, to create, and to respect. And it is in this dimension that culture becomes a genuine instrument of democracy.

Democracy begins at the moment when individuals are given the opportunity to freely express their thoughts - through speech, through art, through language, and through creative action. By protecting and promoting the freedom of cultural self-expression, by supporting creativity and manifestations of cultural diversity, we are in fact protecting democracy itself.

Ensuring such guarantees and specific legal mechanisms within the framework of state cultural policy is an investment not only in sustainable economic development but also in the public consciousness.

In Armenia, cultural policy is aimed not only at the preservation and unbroken transmission of cultural heritage to future generations, but also at the development of new cultural forms that reflect the values and perceptions of contemporary society.

In recent years, we have taken concrete steps to create an open and inclusive cultural environment. Our main approach to cultural policy is that culture must be decentralized, and equal opportunities for participation in cultural life must be provided not only in the major cities of the Republic but also in all communities.

In numerous communities, open cultural spaces have been established for art, music, exhibitions, and cultural and artistic educational projects. These spaces bring together artists, young people, community members, local authorities, and international partners.

Particular attention is given to community-based cultural projects that encourage residents’ active participation in shaping local cultural life.

Museums, cultural centers, and libraries are being transformed into public spaces where open discussions, art classes, educational programs, seminars, and other joint initiatives take place. These projects - often born from civic initiatives - demonstrate that culture can be a language of peace and solidarity.

Armenia strives to create an environment where creativity is regarded as a public value and as a driving force of democracy. We support the creative industries - design, filmmaking, digital arts, new media, and other sectors - that enable young people to engage in global cultural cooperation without losing their sense of identity. This approach simultaneously protects cultural diversity and shapes an economically sustainable creative environment.

Culture is also education - not merely the transmission of knowledge, but a process of self-discovery. When schools and universities cooperate with cultural institutions, when young people have the opportunity to participate in art programs, a generation is formed that thinks freely, looks critically, refuses to conform, and continually strives for a better and more dignified life. That generation is the most valuable guardian of democracy.

Democracy cannot survive without trust. And trust cannot be built through laws alone - it is cultivated through mutual understanding, shared creativity, and common values. Those values are shaped through culture. Therefore, cultural policy must be viewed not as an accessory, but as a fundamental instrument for rebuilding social connections, strengthening education, and reinforcing civic responsibility.

We are convinced that the culture of every nation is part of the world’s polyphony. And only when all voices are heard - large and small, renowned and still unknown - does democracy gain its true meaning.

Armenia actively participates in international cultural initiatives and forums. In particular, Armenia is involved in the Council of Europe’s Cultural Routes program, whose 15^th Advisory Forum will be held in Armenia in 2026.

For almost two decades, Armenia has joined the European Heritage Days initiative, carried out under the motto “Europe: A Common Heritage” of the Council of Europe and the European Union.

I am pleased to inform you that the “Cultural Crossroads: Yerevan International Conference”, dedicated to 20th Anniversary of the UNESCO Convention on the protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions will take place from 26 to 28 November 2025 in Yerevan. During the Conference is planned to adopt a Declaration on Achieving Sustainable Peace through Cultural Diversity.

This declaration emphasizes that cultural diversity is a vital part of humanity’s heritage, fostering dialogue, education, peace, and mutual understanding among nations and peoples. It pledges to protect and promote cultural diversity through cooperation between governments, civil society, and creative sectors, ensuring equal cultural opportunities, respect for traditions, and support for artists and innovation. Finally, it commits to using culture as a bridge for peace and sustainable development, advancing tolerance, digital inclusion, and long-term cultural policies for the benefit of all communities.

In addition to the UNESCO and Council of Europe cultural conventions, Armenia ratified in 2012 the Council of Europe Framework Convention on the Value of Cultural Heritage for Society (the Faro Convention), which broadly addresses the right to cultural heritage as an integral part of the right to participate in cultural life and education - placing it among the fundamental human rights and freedoms.

Democracy cannot exist without public trust. And culture is precisely the domain where people learn to listen to one another, to accept difference as a value, and to transform diversity into cooperation.

In this context, special mention should be made of the Yerevan Book Festival, which has been organized for eight years and has become one of the key events in Armenia’s cultural calendar - uniting writers, publishers, artists, educational institutions, and the reading public. The Yerevan Book Festival has become a platform of cultural democracy, where free speech, the exchange of ideas, and creative self-expression foster public trust and solidarity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Democracy requires the courage to listen, the patience to understand, and the creativity to unite. We believe that these three values can shape a more peaceful, just, and humane world.

Armenia stands ready to share its experience, to learn from others, and to continue cooperation for the sake of a world where culture is not a luxury, but a vital condition for democracy.

Thank you!